New Delhi: India on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistan over the deadly crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling it a case of severe police brutality and urging the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for its human rights abuses.
The condemnation came after reports emerged that more than 27 people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes between protesters and security forces in different parts of PoK, including Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Sudhnoti.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal slammed Islamabad at a weekly press briefing. “We continue to see 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,” Jaiswal said.
“There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in which several protesters have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses,” he added.
The unrest was sparked by the death of a trader who was allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcement in Rawalakot. The protests were led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a grassroots alliance demanding subsidised essential goods, abolition of 12 “refugee seats” in the PoK legislative assembly, and broader governance reforms. Authorities banned the JAAC under anti-terrorism laws and arrested dozens of its members ahead of a planned march on June 9. Pakistani security forces, including police and Rangers, launched a joint crackdown, with authorities accusing protesters of a “guerrilla-style” attack using firearms and petrol bombs.
India reiterated its long-standing position that PoK is an integral part of India under illegal occupation by Pakistan.
Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha said the contrast between Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and PoK is now visible to the entire world.
“The whole world can see that Indian Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful. The people’s political aspirations and economic aspirations are being met. It’s a process that is underway, and comparing their plight with the people in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, it clearly shows that the whole of what we claim to be the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir should have been with India,” Sinha said.
He also referred to the events of 1947, saying: “In fact, in November 1947, if the Indian army had been given a free hand, they would have blown up the two bridges on Kishan Ganga River to prevent Pakistani reinforcement coming and they would have marched on to Muzaffarabad. If Muzaffarabad had fallen to the Indian Army in November 1947, how different things would be, and the people of PoK also would perhaps be much happier than they are today.”
Pakistan’s RAW Claim
Amid the escalating unrest, Pakistani authorities have claimed to have arrested individuals linked to India’s external intelligence agency RAW, alleging their involvement in fuelling the protests. However, India didn’t respond yet officially on Pakistan’s claim of arresting a “RAW network” in connection with the current June 2026 protests. India has, in the past, consistently rejected such claims as false and baseless, calling them a pattern of deflection from Pakistan’s own domestic failures.
International Concern
Pakistan’s own Human Rights Commission (HRCP) said it was “deeply alarmed” by the ongoing violence and expressed concern over the government’s decision to ban the JAAC under anti-terrorism legislation. More than 50 British parliamentarians also wrote to UK authorities raising concerns over reports of arrests, communication blackouts, and escalating tensions, after British Kashmiris said they were unable to reach relatives in PoK due to internet and mobile service disruptions. Members of the Kashmiri diaspora staged protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in London.
Islamabad, however, maintained that its security forces acted to preserve law and order amid what it described as violent protests.
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