Muzaffarabad – At least three people were reportedly killed and more than a dozen injured, including a policeman, as protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) entered a third straight day. The region remained under a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike amid an ongoing communications blackout.
Protests and Clashes
The strike, called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) on Monday, paralysed daily life across Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Poonch, Neelum, Bhimber, and Palandari. Markets remained shut, roads blocked, and internet services suspended.
Tensions escalated when JKJAAC protesters clashed with activists of the Muslim Conference during a parallel “Aman March” at Neelum Bridge. Four protesters were injured, one of whom, Sudheer, later died in hospital. Police said wanted individuals were present among the protesters, raising concerns that criminal elements had hijacked the demonstrations.
Later in the evening, nearly 5,000 people gathered at Lal Chowk, where JKJAAC central leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir delivered a fiery 17-minute speech. He condemned the violence, accused authorities of staging “another May 9,” and announced further protests with Sudheer’s body at Chehlabandi until an FIR and post-mortem were completed.
Similar rallies were staged in Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, while in Bhimber, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq’s brother, Ehsanul Haq of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led a procession.
DG ISPR’s Response
Amid the unrest, Pakistan military spokesperson Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif addressed students in Pallandri. He acknowledged protests as a democratic right but cautioned that disorder damages the economy.
He highlighted federal subsidies on electricity and wheat, low inflation in AJK, and the region’s strong representation in the Pakistan Army.
“Kashmir’s future lies in becoming part of Pakistan,” he said, urging students to protest peacefully and resolve grievances through dialogue.
Government Mediation and Deadlock
Despite federal efforts, negotiations between JKJAAC and the AJK government collapsed. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his government had accepted 36 of 38 demands, insisting “the door for dialogue remains open.”
Talks broke down after nearly 13 hours on Wednesday over two sticking points: abolishing bureaucratic privileges and scrapping legislative seats reserved for refugees from the Indian-held Kashmir. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam confirmed that all other demands had been addressed.
Lawmakers warned that removing refugee seats would weaken AJK’s political structure and bolster India’s narrative. Meanwhile, security officials vowed “strict legal action” against rioters, warning that no one would be allowed to “disrupt daily life for malicious agendas.”
Allegations of Foreign Involvement
The AJK government accused India of fueling the unrest. Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq earlier alleged that Indian funding was backing JKJAAC protests, a claim echoed by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his remarks, hinting at New Delhi’s role in AJK instability.
Law enforcement agencies reported that fake social media accounts linked to Indian intelligence were amplifying JKJAAC’s messaging online. Local sources meanwhile alleged that the attack on the peace rally was carried out by JKJAAC members, further intensifying tensions.
Observers argue that JKJAAC’s hardline tactics and unconstitutional demands risk destabilizing AJK at a sensitive time. Critics point out that despite benefiting from subsidized electricity at Rs.15 per unit compared to over Rs.40 in Pakistan, along with consistent wheat subsidies, JKJAAC leaders have adopted increasingly anti-Pakistan rhetoric. They emphasized that the demand to abolish refugee seats is illegitimate and dangerous as it signals that the people from the Indian-held Kashmir are unwanted in AJK, playing directly into India’s hands.
What’s Next
The AJK Legislative Assembly has already cautioned against attempts to dismantle the region’s constitutional framework. Officials stress that while dissent and protest remain protected, violent agitation influenced by external actors will face firm consequences.
However, JKJAAC’s rhetoric has taken a confrontational turn. In a video statement, the group’s leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir claimed Pakistani security forces were “planning to kill Kashmiris and local civilians in desperation to crush the movement and civilian uprising.” He also appealed for international diaspora support, echoing an anti-state narrative that critics warn is aimed at sowing discord and undermining public trust in state institutions.
Citizens, meanwhile, voiced frustration over prolonged shutdowns of schools, hospitals, and markets, describing them as “collective self-destruction.” Analysts caution that Mir’s statements, amplified by hostile networks, risk destabilizing AJK at a time when dialogue remains on the table.
