Overview: Protests Return to Pakistan-administered Kashmir
An uneasy calm has settled on Pakistan-administered Kashmir as the region marked a fourth day of a complete shutdown, with clashes between protesters and security forces leaving at least 15 people dead, including three police officers. Dozens more were injured as a broader standoff between a grassroots movement and the local government persisted in Muzaffarabad and other districts.
The unrest is led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), an umbrella group that mobilizes traders and civil society. After launching a 38-point charter of demands, the JAAC called for sustained shutdowns, claiming the government had not fulfilled crucial grievances that go beyond bread-and-butter issues to questions of governance and reform.
What sparked the current round of protests?
The protests echo a two-year cycle rooted in a mix of economic distress and political grievances. The JAAC’s latest surge follows a pattern set in 2023–24, when electricity tariffs, subsidised flour distribution, and related shortages sparked street action. In September 2023, the group formalised its platform, uniting voices from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and signaling a longer campaign for structural change rather than isolated protests over a single issue.
While the immediate trigger in this round was economic strain—rising living costs, high utility bills, and welfare gaps—the JAAC frames its campaign as a broader challenge to “ruling elite privileges” and a demand for democratic reforms and greater accountability.
The 38-point charter: what the protesters want
Central to the JAAC’s plan is a sweeping reform agenda aimed at social and political transformation. Key demands include:
- Abolition of what the JAAC calls “ruling elite privileges,” such as government vehicles, personal staff, and fuel allowances for top officials.
- The withdrawal of legal cases filed against activists during earlier protests and a broad package of tax exemptions and job opportunities to ease unemployment.
- Ending the 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees and their descendants, a move the JAAC argues concentrates development funds and political power.
- Free access to education and healthcare, and major infrastructure projects to connect the region more closely with the rest of Pakistan, including tunnels, bridges, and an international airport.
The charter also calls for reform in governance structures and raises the stakes on how subsidies—especially for electricity and staple foods—are allocated and monitored.
How the government is responding
The administration has imposed a communications blackout to curb what officials describe as propaganda and “fake news” circulating on social media. Educational institutions have been shuttered indefinitely, and security measures have included the deployment of paramilitary forces alongside local police. The government insists negotiations are ongoing but emphasizes that substantial reforms require time and federal support.
A new negotiating committee arrived in Muzaffarabad to engage with the JAAC after the initial rounds of talks yielded little progress. Officials argue that while some demands align with policy directions or could be implemented in time, others require legislative processes and funding that must come from Islamabad.
What happens next?
Negotiations resumed with the aim of ending the deadlock, but both sides warned that endure a fragile ceasefire hinges on concrete progress. The next round of talks was scheduled to continue, with the government signaling a readiness to restore internet and mobile services once conditions improve.
Analysts note that the protests reflect a deeper, long-running tension between grassroots demands and the region’s political structure under Pakistan-administered Kashmir. While the JAAC seeks immediate relief and structural reform, the government faces the challenge of delivering meaningful change within constitutional and fiscal constraints.
Context: Kashmir’s broader dispute
Located in a region historically contested by India, Pakistan, and China, Azad Jammu and Kashmir operates under its own semi-autonomous framework. The current flare-up adds another chapter to a decades-long struggle over governance, resources, and political voice for residents who have often felt sidelined in decision-making that shapes their daily lives.
