Deadly clashes between JAAC protesters and security forces in Rawalakot have left at least 12 people dead, raising fears of a wider escalation across Pakistan occupied Kashmir….reports Asian Lite News Desk
At least 12 people, including protesters and security personnel, were killed and several others injured after violent clashes broke out between members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and law enforcement agencies in Rawalakot, a city in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to local media reports.
Officials said the violence erupted amid rising tensions over a planned protest march by the JAAC, which was recently declared a proscribed organisation under anti terrorism laws by the PoK administration.
Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan said that 12 people lost their lives in the clashes, including eight protesters and four members of the security forces. He added that several security officials were also injured during the confrontation.
According to Khan, JAAC members allegedly targeted security personnel during the unrest. He claimed that some protesters were carrying sophisticated weapons and attempted to disrupt law and order in the area.
The PoK police also confirmed casualties among law enforcement personnel. A spokesperson for the Inspector General of Police said four security officials were killed while more than 20 police and security personnel sustained injuries during the violence.
In the aftermath of the clashes, authorities imposed heightened security measures across the region and launched close monitoring of the situation to prevent further unrest.
The latest violence comes just days after the PoK government formally banned the JAAC ahead of its planned Long March on June 9. The group has previously organised demonstrations across the region, demanding action on economic issues, governance concerns and political rights.
Several earlier protests organised by the movement also turned violent. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces in May 2024 and September 2025 resulted in fatalities and injuries, further deepening tensions between activists and authorities.
Rawalakot has emerged as the centre of the current wave of protests following a crackdown on activists linked to the organisation.
According to reports citing local activists and movement leaders, tensions escalated after authorities designated the JAAC as a banned organisation and introduced a series of security restrictions ahead of the planned march.
Protest leaders have also alleged that internet services across large parts of PoK have remained suspended since the night of June 5, significantly affecting communication and coordination among residents.
Activists claim that public anger intensified following reports that two JAAC members, Shahzaib Habib and Amjid Kashmiri, died during confrontations connected to the ongoing demonstrations.
The deaths have become a rallying point for protesters, who have accused security forces of using excessive force against demonstrators. Authorities have not publicly responded to those allegations.
Reports indicate that unrest has spread beyond Rawalakot, with demonstrations, strikes and protest actions reported in several towns and cities, including Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Tata Pani and Plandari.
In Plandari, local activists reportedly blocked key roads and access routes as part of the wider protest campaign, causing disruptions to transport and daily activities.
The escalating tensions have also drawn attention from members of the Kashmiri diaspora abroad. Solidarity demonstrations have reportedly been held in the United Kingdom, while concerns about the situation in PoK have been raised at public forums and advocacy events in the United States and Australia.
Observers say the coming days could prove critical as the protest movement continues to gather momentum and authorities seek to contain unrest.
With the Long March approaching and tensions remaining high, Rawalakot has become the focal point of a rapidly evolving political and security crisis that is attracting increasing regional and international attention
India Calls Out Pakistan
India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for unleashing a pattern of fake news and videos while making a “desperate attempt” to cover-up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses during the ongoing crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Addressing a weekly media briefing on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India hopes that the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses.
When asked about the ongoing protests and crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Jaiswal responded, “We continue to see in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover-up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses. There are reports of police brutality in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in which several people have been killed and there are several more who have been injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses.”
