DND Report: Once again, within just one and a half years, Azad Kashmir is facing civil chaos and administrative collapse, as three policemen were martyred and several others injured by armed protesters who opened fire during the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) strike.
It should be remembered that in May 2024, JAAC protesters also targeted policemen. At that time, they directly fired at the police, injuring several officers, while one SHO was thrown off a mountain ridge and later died. This time, armed protesters attacked police in Rawalakot, Dheerkot, and Chamyati, resorting to indiscriminate gunfire that caused multiple police casualties and left several civilians wounded. The slain policemen were identified as Constable Khurshid and Constable Jameel, both from Bagh, and Constable Tahir Rafi from Muzaffarabad. The injured officers belonged to various districts across Azad Kashmir, highlighting the widespread nature of the violence.
Eyewitnesses told DND News Agency that protesters were not only armed but also behaved like professional shooters. The JAAC, which has been playing havoc with peace in Azad Kashmir, has yet to condemn the deaths and injuries of policemen and civilians. Security sources described the attacks on police as deliberate attempts by armed agitators to destabilize the region.
Authorities suspended mobile, internet, and telephone services across Azad Kashmir to prevent protesters from spreading fake news. However, protesters are reportedly transmitting data on social media using the Thandiani-Abbottabad cellphone network.
After the deadly clashes, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq appeared publicly after three days of protests and invited JAAC leaders for dialogue to ease the unrest. However, he failed to explain his absence since the protests began on September 29, 2025. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad with Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, the AJK Prime Minister offered talks with JAAC, stating that the government wanted to avoid further chaos in the region. He alleged that nationalists and violent elements were among the protesters and informed media men that protestors also burnt down a school in Plak area. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary added that the AJK Inspector General of Police had been directed to cancel previous protest cases and that JAAC’s demands regarding electricity and local government had already been accepted.
A Retrospective View
Despite Wednesday’s unfortunate bloodshed, the broader situation in Azad Kashmir needs a retrospective look. Once a relatively protest-free region, the dynamics changed after the formation of the JAAC.
According to officials, Wednesday’s protest was uncalled for since an agreement had already been reached and amended according to JAAC’s satisfaction. Initially, the group was focused on public issues such as inflation and cheap electricity. However, JAAC has now shifted to highly sensitive demands, including the abolition of 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan. The alliance argues that these seats distort local representation and give Islamabad undue influence in Azad Kashmir’s politics.
It is important to note that JAAC is neither a political party nor does it hold any seats in the Legislative Assembly, yet it is demanding structural changes in the political setup. It has also called for renegotiating hydropower projects to ensure local benefits, further subsidies on wheat and flour, and lower electricity tariffs for industries—comparable to the heavily subsidized domestic consumer rate of Rs. 3 per unit, as opposed to over Rs. 40 per unit in the rest of the country.
Unrest in Azad Kashmir
The region witnessed multiple shutdowns and demonstrations demanding subsidized flour and electricity. Protesters argued that since electricity is generated locally through the Mangla Dam in Mirpur, the people of Azad Kashmir should receive it at cost. Protests intensified after the government withdrew subsidies on wheat and increased electricity rates in 2023.
Eventually, JAAC called for a shutdown and marched towards Muzaffarabad in May 2024. Their demands were accepted, and the government announced a Rs. 23 billion ($82 million) subsidy program to reduce the price of wheat, flour, and electricity.
Possible External Influences
Some official circles claim similarities between JAAC and nationalist elements in Balochistan and KP who often demand more than what the federal government can offer. Certain officials believe JAAC has been hijacked by “secret elements” and foreign enemies using it as a tool, while others argue it has long been working covertly for external actors.
Since Azad Kashmir is a highly sensitive issue for the federal government, many hesitate to openly criticize JAAC leadership, which has gained popularity among the masses. This is partly due to the poor performance of the civil administration, and partly because JAAC uses “mob power” to address public grievances.
Whether or not JAAC is working on a foreign agenda, it has no right to kill policemen and civilians or use sophisticated weapons to create chaos under the guise of public demands. The government’s indifferent attitude, political inaction, and delayed response have worsened the situation. Every gap left by the administration is quickly exploited by miscreants. Moreover, offering talks to protesters who have killed policemen projects state weakness, especially since this is the second such deadly incident in less than two years.
The Way Forward
The unrest in Azad Kashmir, fueled by a group with no political legitimacy but now demanding structural changes such as the abolition of 12 Assembly seats, is a highly sensitive matter. The state must thoroughly investigate who is behind these demands and whether foreign hands are manipulating public anger over hydropower projects and subsidies. Above all, those responsible for the killing of policemen performing their official duties must be brought to justice.
