What happened: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir protests and reported fatalities
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are being driven by people he likened to “enemies” such as India, and Khawaja Asif ruled out dialogue with protesters. Khawaja Asif described the demonstrators as adversaries of Pakistan.
The reported dispute involves competing claims from Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Rana Sanaullah said JAAC met him and presented a list of demands.
Rana Sanaullah alleged protesters sought to seize Muzaffarabad and Mirpur by force and described the situation as an “India-like attack.”
JAAC disputed the official framing and asserted that security forces killed 37 unarmed peaceful protesters over the previous two days. JAAC also claimed the fatalities included women and children and extended to people not actively protesting.
Violence was reported to have erupted when JAAC launched a long march on Monday, with the long march coinciding with the first phase of legislative assembly polls in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.