Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has ruled out dialogue with protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, comparing them to India as the death toll from recent clashes remains disputed.
Key facts
- •Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated he considers JAAC protesters to be enemies of Pakistan.
- •The JAAC reported 20 deaths among its activists since Monday, a figure disputed by government authorities.
- •The PML-N won nine of the 13 seats contested during the first phase of regional elections held on July 27.
- •Authorities have implemented a regional internet suspension and a media ban regarding the protests.
- •India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the protests as a consequence of Pakistan's administrative oppression.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared that there will be no dialogue with protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), labeling them as enemies of the state. This statement follows reports of violent clashes between demonstrators and security personnel that have resulted in a disputed number of fatalities. While the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) claims 20 activists have been killed since Monday, government officials have contested these figures and accused the protesters of using force.
By the numbers
Clashes and Conflicting Claims
The JAAC, which has been protesting for over a month, reported that its activists were killed when law enforcement opened fire during a march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad. JAAC members, including Abid Shaheen, stated that dozens were injured and bodies were moved to a medical camp near Drek. Conversely, PoK police chief Captain (retd.) Liaquat Ali Malik alleged that protesters were armed with modern weapons and targeting security forces, noting that official death tolls could not be verified without post-mortem examinations.
Political Context and Elections
The unrest coincides with a three-phase election for the 45 directly elected seats of the 53-member PoK legislative assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured nine of the 13 seats contested in the first phase on July 27. The election has been marked by allegations of rigging and a boycott by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Meanwhile, India has criticized the elections as an attempt to mask illegal occupation and human rights violations in the region.
Timeline
- June 9The JAAC began a series of protests and a long march across PoK.
- July 27The first phase of legislative assembly elections was held, and a march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad occurred.
- July 28Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters there would be no dialogue with the protesters.
- August 2The second phase of the legislative assembly elections is scheduled to take place.
- August 10The third phase of the legislative assembly elections is scheduled to take place.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
