Massive anti-Pakistan protests have erupted across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) following a severe government crackdown and the arrest of more than 600 civil rights activists. The detention of prominent protest leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir has triggered a major spike in tensions, drawing a fierce ultimatum from the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
JAAC Calls for Public Action
In a post on X, the JAAC expressed deep resentment over the high-profile detention of its leadership, stating, "Ghulam is under their control. Shah is in captivity..." while calling for immediate public action under the hashtag #ReleaseShoukatNawazMir. The committee urged supporters to come out peacefully for their rights, holding white flags and maintaining discipline.
Viral Video Exposes Humanitarian Crisis
Video footage of Sardar Aman Khan, a core JAAC member, has gone viral on social media, exposing acute shortages and desperation under Pakistani rule. Addressing a charged crowd, Khan pleaded, "To those in Mendhar, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda... we appeal to the people there. On this side, there is a shortage of rations, a shortage of medicines, and we need your help." He called for an end to the ceasefire line, stating, "We want the end of the ceasefire line and we need your support."
Defiance Against Pakistani Authorities
Khan warned that locals would no longer succumb to Islamabad's threats. "If we have kept the path open, and if someone thinks that by hearing our 'weak knees', that we are trapped somewhere, then they are mistaken," he said. In a direct challenge, he asked the crowd, "Should we step towards the ceasefire line or not?" to which the crowd roared, "Yes!"
Issuing an explicit warning, Khan asserted, "If the response is bullets, then we also have options. Don't complain tomorrow, don't express regret tomorrow that you felt bad." He concluded, "If you offer loyalty, we'll offer loyalty; if you offer cruelty, we'll offer cruelty."
Broader Regional Appeal
In a separate video message, Khan addressed people across Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other regions. He stated, "It has been nearly a month now that Kashmir (PoJK) has been under such influence and oppression. For demanding their basic rights, the cruelty, injustice, massacre, and military aggression committed against the people here have reached their peak." He noted that food and medicine supply routes are closed, and appealed for support for a protest on July 5.
Mass Mobilization for July 5
The JAAC has issued a massive call for peaceful demonstrations, aiming to gather half a million participants. Using its X handle, the committee listed the estimated population by district: Muzaffarabad (712,839), Neelum (227,343), Jhelum Valley (262,602), Bagh (448,701), Haveli (175,328), Poonch (552,997), Sudhanoti (316,456), Kotli (809,712), Mirpur (439,929), and Bhimber (442,968), totaling approximately 4.39 million. The committee declared, "If, on this day, July 5, 2026, at least 50,000 people come out from each of these 10 districts, the total number could reach 500,000 people." They emphasized non-violence, urging participants to "Hold a white flag, demonstrate discipline, and maintain peace."
Global Attention Sought
The JAAC stated that the protest is designed to bypass censorship and grab global attention. "Send this message to the world that we are only demanding our rights, and our protest is completely peaceful," the committee asserted. Activists report that Pakistani forces are using drones for surveillance, and local leaders have called for a boycott of elections scheduled for July 27.
International and Domestic Outcry
Prominent activist Amjad Ayub Mirza raised concerns, stating, "The situation in Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is getting worse by the hour. After the arrest of Shaukat Nawaz Mir, so far more than 600 workers and activists have been arrested... July 5, usually celebrated as Kashmir Solidarity Day, is now being observed against Pakistan." He noted that thousands are expected to protest in London as well.
On July 2, the National Anti-Terrorism Front India protested outside the United Nations office, demanding global intervention. Amnesty International condemned Pakistan's heavy-handed tactics, accusing authorities of using violent measures to suppress dissent and unlawfully designating the JAAC as a "proscribed organization."
Protest in UK
In Bradford, UK, during a cultural event attended by Pakistan's Consul General Zahid Ahmed Khan, activist Mahmood Kashmiri interrupted to criticize Pakistan over human rights violations, demanding the Pakistan Army leave PoJK.
