PoK Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Must Be Held Accountable: MEA On Deadly Protests
India on Friday declared that the ongoing turmoil and violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are the “natural consequence” of decades of Islamabad’s oppressive policies and systemic exploitation, while firmly reiterating that the territory is an integral part of India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces on demonstrators and called for Pakistan to be held accountable for its “horrific human rights violations.”In a strongly-worded statement, the MEA said, “We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians.
We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and its systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation.”The statement comes as PoK is engulfed in one of its largest protest waves in recent history. A “shutter-down and wheel-jam strike” called by the Awami Action Committee (AAC)—a coalition of local traders, lawyers, and civil groups—has paralysed daily life across the region, including in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and the Neelum Valley. Several civilians have reportedly been killed and dozens more injured after Pakistani security forces opened fire on demonstrators.
The region remains on edge, with markets shut, transport suspended, and a heavy security presence.The agitation is fueled by a comprehensive 38-point charter of demands that reflects decades of perceived neglect.
While immediate demands include relief from crippling inflation through subsidies on flour and electricity, the charter also calls for fundamental political reforms. Protesters are demanding the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees living in Pakistan and an end to the privileges of the ruling elite. “Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years. Enough is enough,” said AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir.
