State Violence in Occupied-Kashmir Exposes Pakistan’s False Two-Nation Theory: BNM

October 2, 2025

Quetta, Oct 2 (NVI) Slamming Pakistan for unleashing violence against locals in occupied-Kashmir, prominent Baloch organisation Baloch National Movement (BNM) today said the “actions and behaviour” of the Pakistani State once again expose fakeness its “two-Nation” theory and demonstrate that it “exists only to safeguard the interests of dominant Punjab”.

The BNM noted that at least 12 peaceful demonstrators have been killed in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) as a result of “violence unleashed by Pakistani state institutions.”

It said Kashmir, where even the internet is shut down to suppress information and keep the world in the dark, urgently requires international attention.

Expressing solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir, BNM said it strongly condemns the “atrocities against unarmed Kashmiris.”

“Through its actions and behavior, the Pakistani state once again demonstrates that this sham State (of Pakistan) exists only to safeguard the interests of dominant Punjab, while subjugating all other nations (parts),” the BNM said.

It said, “the latest situation in Kashmir exposes the falsehood of the so-called ‘Two-Nation Theory,’ the pretext under which Pakistan was created. In reality, its sole purpose has been the usurpation of the lands and resources of historical nations.”

BNM has always emphasized cooperation and unity among oppressed nations, the statement said, adding “We must stand together on a common front against our shared enemy, to struggle for our freedom, national sovereignty, and dignity.” (NVI)

TTP claims Quetta attack, says it was to avenge ‘oppression’ by Pakistani military

October 2, 2025

TTP cadres — Cadres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) - File Pic

Peshawar, Oct 2 (NVI) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) today claimed responsibility for a major suicide attack on the headquarters of Frontier Corps (FC) in Quetta in Balochistan, saying it was a “Haqqani revenge” operation against the “cruel” Pakistani military in which at least 40 soldiers were killed and injured.

The headquarters building of the FC was also badly damaged in the “Quetta invasion”, said TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani in a statement.

This operation was “a just revenge for the drone attacks of the unclean army on oppressed Muslims and countrymen across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the tribal areas and the Tirah Valley, the disappearance of innocent and oppressed Baloch people across Balochistan and the blood of our martyred Mujahideen, he said.

The spokesman said “due to panic, the cruel and oppressive evil paramilitary force fired indiscriminately, killing and injuring many civilians, while all our Fidayeen Mujahideen were completely successful in achieving their objectives.”

Giving details of yesterday’s operation, the spokesman said “a brave and valiant martyr Mujahid Bara bin Malik Taqbalullah of a special martyrdom unit of the ‘Special Martyrdom Force’ (SIF) of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, carried out a blessed and successful martyrdom attack by ramming a vehicle (car bomb) loaded with 350 kg of high-level explosives into an important building of the headquarters in the heart of the cruel FC headquarters located in the Quetta City, district of Quetta.”

The car bomb blast was so intense that more than half of the camp and nearby military buildings were completely razed to the ground and the defensive walls were destroyed, Khorasani said.

Soon after, “5 other brave martyrdom fighters of the Special Istihdi Force (SIF) of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Khalid bin Walid, Muaz bin Ghafra, Umair bin Hamam, Abdullah bin Atak and Zarar bin Azur, who were equipped with various types of modern warfare equipment, entered the camp.”

The five attackers had 25 hand grenades, modern GL weapons, magnetic bombs (sticks) and other weapons, using which they caused irreparable damage to the enemies of religion and nation.

“The published photos prove that they had only one grenade and about two magazines left, after which all these martyrdom fighters attained the highest rank of martyrdom,” he said.

“This historic battle lasted for about two hours,” the spokesman said, adding “The (Pakistan) army’s claim that they martyred the Mujahideen within 10 minutes is completely false, false and baseless”.

Countering the Pakistan Army’s claim, Khorasani said, “the pictures of the martyrs of Islam were published by the official and military media at 3 pm, while the operation had started at around 11:15 am and intense firing continued inside the camp till 2:20 pm.”

Quoting “reliable information received by our Intelligence Agency (TIA) from sources,” he said, “more than 40 cruel FC and other organization personnel including a major were killed and injured in this blessed and successful mass martyrdom operation.”

Also, several military vehicles, office buildings and a large amount of military equipment present in the camp were destroyed, he said.

Talking about the revenge, the spokesman recalled that “the evil army, which is an enemy of Sharia and nation, had killed some innocent prisoners in a fake encounter and then claimed to have eliminated a group of ‘fidayeen’ before they could carry out their attack.

The faking was done by the Pakistan Army to “cover up its defeat and humiliation” at the hands of TTP, he added.

“All our martyred Mujahideen performed their great responsibilities with dignity and grace and gave a sense of satisfaction to the oppressed people,” he said.

Using this opportunity, the spokesman sent out a message, asking the “youth of Pakistan, especially the oppressed Baloch people, to join the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and become the hands and arms of the Mujahideen to achieve real salvation from this cruel and oppressive army, FC and other so-called state thugs throughout the country, especially in Balochistan, and to implement the Islamic system on this land.” (NVI)

Day 4 of POJK Unrest: Protesters move towards capital Muzaffarabad despite Pakistani ‘repression’

October 2, 2025

Rawalakot/Muzaffarabad, Oct 2 (NVI) On the 4th day of their agitation for rights, tens of thousands of inhabitants of Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK) moved from various parts towards the capital Muzaffarabad, despite acute repression unleashed by the Pakistani forces.

So, far 12 people have been killed and hundreds injured in firing by Pakistan’s formal and informal forces. The deceased include 9 unarmed protesters and 3 personnel of local police, killed in firing by ‘non-local forces’, according to the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC) which is spearheading the agitation that began on September 29.

The Pakistani forces, including paramilitary Rangers and Islamabad Police, have been carrying out oppression against the protesters, despite which a ‘Long March to Muzaffarabad’, capital of POK, is continuing.

The long march began yesterday and people are moving in from all parts of POJK and Gilgit-Baltistan to press their 38-point Charter of Demands.

The protesters keep chanting that Kashmiris will not bow before the State repression and Pakistan’s machinations won’t succeed.

“In Muzaffarabad, there will be no discussion, but only a decision,” said one of the key leaders of the agitation.

The Pakistani regime has imposed a communication blackout, including shutting down of Internet, to prevent information flow out of POJK.

Along side, a severe crackdown is being undertaken to crush the protests. Some key members of JAAC have also disappeared mysteriously, suspectedly abducted by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

“Since September 29, a peaceful public movement has been met with state repression, human rights violations, restrictions on civil liberties, and the killing of innocent civilians,” said a press statement issued by JAAC’s Core Committee member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri.

According to Nazir, state forces and non-local personnel have carried out indiscriminate firing, killing at least 9 unarmed civilians and injuring hundreds more.

“Tragically, three personnel of the Azad Kashmir Police have also been killed by bullets fired by non-local forces,” he said.

He issued an urgent appeal to the international media and global human rights organizations, calling for “immediate attention to the ongoing crisis in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”

Nazir said, “Since September 28, the Government of Pakistan has enforced a complete communication blackout across Azad Kashmir, suspended mobile networks, internet, and landline connections, effectively cutting off millions of people from the outside world. Inter-provincial highways have been blocked to deliberately create shortages of essential goods, food, and fuel, while cases are being registered against JK-JAAC leaders, activists, and journalists.”

He underscored that these actions “are not only a gross violation of human rights but also a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantee every individual the right to life, liberty, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression.”

Highlighting the peaceful and constitutional nature of the ongoing struggle, Nazir reaffirmed that the JK-JAAC’s movement is rooted in the 38-point Charter of Demands submitted months ago, which remains unimplemented despite the government’s commitment in December 2024 to act upon 12 of its key points.

The demands include abolition of 12 reserved seats in the POJK Assembly for refugees settled in Pakistan, transfer of full powers and funds to local governments, independent and across-the-board accountability, elimination of unnecessary and excessive perks of the ruling elite, bureaucracy, and judiciary.

The demands also include restoration of student unions, fixed quotas for persons with disabilities,free and quality healthcare and education for all citizens, provision of interest-free loans to youth, tax reductions, recognition of rights of Mangla Dam affectees, meaningful judicial reforms, improvement of mobile services and elimination of corporate exploitation, provision of clean drinking water, support and opportunities for agricultural growth, protection of forests and prevention of illegal timber smuggling, establishment of the Azad Kashmir Expressway, construction of Leepa Valley Tunnel and Haveli–Bhadi Tunnel, reconstruction of the Azad Pattan–Sone road network, and the complete eradication of bribery, nepotism, and corruption in government institutions.

Nazir underscored that “Pakistan-administered Kashmir remains a disputed territory under UN Security Council resolutions” and “attempts by elements of the Pakistani establishment and non-State forces to crush a peaceful movement through violence constitute violations not only of the principle of self-determination but also of fundamental UN principles and the Geneva Conventions.”

Nazir strongly criticized sections of the Pakistani media for spreading false and misleading narratives to conceal ground realities from Pakistan’s 250 million citizens and the international community.

He appealed to international media outlets to immediately dispatch representatives to the region to report on the crisis.

He also called upon the United Nations, OIC, European Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other global human rights bodies to urgently intervene, conduct independent investigations, and pressure Pakistan to end the bloodshed.

While welcoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s offer for dialogue, Nazir made clear that meaningful talks require an immediate end to the communication blackout.

He further announced that the JK-JAAC will pursue legal action to secure justice for martyrs and victims of state violence, with over 100 civilians already wounded by live ammunition in the past days.

“Our struggle is peaceful, just, and constitutional,” Nazir declared. “We will not take up arms. But silence from the international community will only embolden perpetrators of human rights abuses and intensify the anger of the people.” (NVI)

Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir is burning; 10 killed, over 150 injured in police firing

October 1, 2025

20251001_184127 — Vehicles set ablaze in POJK by protesters today

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Oct 1 (NVI) Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) is burning on the third day of protests as Pakistani forces resorted to extreme brutalities, including direct firing on demonstrators, which resulted in the death of over 10 civilians and injuries to over 150.

All the protesters killed and injured bore bullet marks, according to reports from ground.

The area of Chamiati had streets drenched with blood, said a local source.

Shaukat Nawaz, leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which is spearheading the campaign for rights of Kashmiris, pledged that the killings would be avenged.

Talking about the protesters killed and injured, he said, “I am their heir, the Action Committee is their heir. We will avenge it.”

However, he appealed for peace at the moment.

Several police and military personnel have also been injured in the retaliatory action by the protesters angry at the killing of their associates.

The agitated protesters also set ablaze some military and government vehicles.

“The scenes witnessed today are unprecedented. We have never even heard about this extremity used by the Pakistani forces in our Kashmir,” said a local.

According to reports from POJK, several activists have been abducted by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Prominent among them is Advocate Amjad Ali Khan, a Core member of the Awami Action Committee who arrived in Islamabad this morning from UK, where he had gone to meet his daughter. (NVI)

Balochistan: BLA claims killing 6 Pakistani soldiers in an attack

October 1, 2025

Fighters of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) at some undisclosed location. File Pic

Quetta, Oct 1 (NVI) Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed to have killed 6 Pakistani soldiers in a targeted attack in occupied Balochistan.

BLA freedom fighters attacked enemy Pakistani army in Zawah area of Kalat and eliminated six enemy personnel, its spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said in a statement.

He said modern and automatic weapons were used in the attack.

The freedom fighters targeted the enemy army while they were advancing for aggression in the area, the spokesman said.

He added that after facing severe losses, the enemy army was forced to retreat.

BLA fighters also attacked an enemy army outpost at the board area of Absar, Turbat during the intervening night of September 29-30 using grenades, the spokesman said.

As a result of the attack, enemy army suffered casualties and property losses, details of which were not known immediately. (NVI)

UN podium and Pakistan’s Kashmir raga

October 1, 2025

Column

By Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri

Does anyone remember that any Pakistani Prime Minister, and in absence of one, which has been quite frequent in the history of the democracy-resistant nation, any Pakistani representative has not raised the question of Kashmir at the UN? Always with the same arrogance – we can’t be wrong, even if the annals of history keep building a case against us?

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on September 26 was a tad fuller of hubris when he tuned into the same raga of Kashmir at the UN podium which he thumped with pomposity while reminding a feeble audience that he had delivered a similar speech a year ago – which might have been forgotten.

Shehbaz mentioned the UNSC’s 1948 resolution on Kashmir that seeks to resolve the issue through well-defined and structured mechanism, but he forgot to mention what preceded that and what Kashmiris went through. In 1948, as even Pakistan’s most ardent supporter in Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has written in his autobiography Wullar Kinare – Pakistani tribal leaders, in collusion with local politicians, would rape Kahmiri women to instil terror in the population.

Other accounts of the 1948 tribal invasion are equally horrifying.

Terror, the obvious manifestation of arrogance, has been the only roadblock in maintaining peace in the Valley and once this menace will be eliminated, the solution will appear as Rumi saw “a way appearing”.

1948 was immediately after partition of India, or rather Indians, and so India never blocked people-to-people and later government- to government interactions and flow across borders even after a war. That’s why India and Pakistan relations somewhat flourished till 1965 and people across the border could freely maintain familial and commercial links. But Pakistan launched a piercing attack into the back of India in 1965 when India was nursing similar wounds following the 1962 China war. The 1965 Pakistani aggression which, according to veteran journalist-author MJ Akbar, reconfigured the psyche of people and it went from bad to worse in coming years.

In his pretension of imperiousness, Shehbaz invoked genocide in Gaza to compare human rights violation in Kashmir. He didn’t cite any media report, least any credible info gathered from any official source to prove his imagination even 10 per cent. Because no evidence exist. After Pakistan’s Pahalgam horror, tourism is picking up pace. Kashmiris, if they have problems at all, they have only those kinds of problems as rest of Indians have grievances against governance which is a sign of a robust democracy.

Sharif felt no shame in supporting US President Donald Trump whose country has blocked a number of proposals to prevent genocide of Palestinians at the UNSC. He was full of grateful pride for recommending Trump for the Nobel Peace prize.

*Kashmir, Pakistan, Palestine*
Those who have travelled Kashmir in the last 10 years know that Kashmiris support Palestinians in almost as many hues as possible. They have had organisations supporting Palestinian Authority of Yasser Arafat (with his cutouts or poster adorning their walls), Hamas (its supporters certainly not on surface but they do support group’s right to resistance and have been active without any trouble), and Hezbollah and Iranian clerical leadership (these people have well-organised and very open in their support with their office in the heart of Srinagar).

The Indian government whether the central government and its various organs or the state government has never prevented these organisations from presenting their point of view. In fact, seminars in support of Palestinian cause have been as frequent as they might have been in any Indian academic institution.

Only after August 5, 2019, as a measure of precaution, active processions in any political cause were proscribed so that they don’t flare out of control. Once normalcy limped back to the Valley, these Palestinian-supporting organisations were also allowed to have their space. Yes, the government has ensured that there should not be any glorification of October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel as it has been the government’s official policy to deem them as “terror” and condemnable. However, the criticism of Israel and its genocide has been allowed in however harshest way possible.

Almost the same situation perhaps must be prevailing in Pakistan. Pakistan too has allowed public support in favour of Palestinian cause in a similar way. It would be different from India as much as the demography of Pakistan is different from that of India.

The Palestinian embassy in New Delhi is one of the most vibrant missions of Palestine in almost the whole globe. Its ambassador is adored like a most cherished friend. The events of the embassy are fervently attended by all sections of Indians and foreigners living in India.

The case of Pakistan vis a vis all Muslims of the world has been that of an opportunistic 20th and 21st century nation. It was very early in its infancy that Pakistan aligned with America. History will remind that it was used to foment the American cause in the Indian subcontinent and the Asia Pacific.

Late Pakistani bureaucrat-diplomat-author-sufi Qudratullah Shahab wrote in epic autobiography Shahabnama that even certain regime changes in Pakistan were effected by Washington and that like all other Muslim countries, Pakistani also looked otherwise when Palestinians were massacred and forced to live as refugees in geographies where, if not enough succour was available, they had to beg for survival.

The Pakistani quid pro quo-guided policy has continued to this day. MJ Akbar, now a regular columnist for the Open magazine, wrote in a recent piece that Pakistan provided its bases for American planes to attack Iranian nuclear sites in June. Beyond this, nothing remains to unveil Pakistan’s policy for its “brothers of faith”.

One more hypocrisy of Pakistani leaders is quoting from the Quran – the scripture for all faithful.

Sharif began his speech quoting a somewhat long verse of the Quran, ostensibly to prove a point of being holier than thou (India). He also emphatically recalled the Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos – the name of his military’s offensive against India in brief May flagration. He didn’t perfectly pronounce it though.

Barring Jinnah who perhaps lacked the ability to properly quote from the Quran – all Pakistani leaders quote from the Quran for sounding holy and those always on the right side of the fulcrum of righteousness.

But the Quran, like all scriptures, is people-agnostic. It recognises no claim. Its sole parameter is pushing people to an exalted position of character, and also nations those who are free of injustice (to others and to themselves) and thus know no fear. Beyond this threshold lie the solutions to all problems and a path to permanent peace. The earlier Pakistan realises this, the better. Only it will make Pakistan the Pakistan (pure).

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Column are purely those of the Author who is the National Chairman of Muslim Students Organisation of India [MSO]. He writes on a wide range of issues, including, Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare.)

Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir continues to be on boil because of local uprising

September 30, 2025

20250930_210102 — Scene at one of the venues of protest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir today

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Sep 30 (NVI) Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan continued to be on the boil today as locals held protests and demonstrations on the second day of their agitation against the Pakistani regime.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which is spearheading the agitation launched yesterday, tonight gave a call for ‘long march to Muzaffarabad’, implying that people from all parts of the Pakistan-occupied territories should converge in the capital of POJK.

When the ‘campaign for rights’ agitation began yesterday, one young Kashmiri was shot dead and over 25 others sustained bullet injuries when Pakistani forces fired directly at the protesters.

This use of brutal force by the Pakistani military led to further anger among the Kashmiris, who chanted slogans against the Pakistani State and its institutions, calling them “terrorists” and asking them to leave the occupied territories of Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan.

During the agitation today, lakhs of people participated in protests, whose main centres were Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli and Mirpur.

Addressing the mass gatherings, the leaders of the Awami Committee spoke about the 78 years of oppression, neglect and brutalities carried out by Pakistani forces on the people of the occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan.

They declared that the patience of Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied territories was over and they were now ready to fight for the liberation.

JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz said though Pakistan has named occupied Jammu and Kashmir as ‘Azad Kashmir’ (Independent Kashmir), there is no freedom in any part of the territories.

He said the people of the occupied territories have only suffered under the Pakistani State and now want the real freedom.

Nawaz said while their protest was non-violent, the Pakistani agencies were making all efforts to create trouble and violence.

As part of the protest, the Kohla point of entry into POJK from Pakistan was blocked by the locals by placing huge boulders and containers.

At some places, locals lay down on the ground to prevent Pakistanis from entering.

“It is like a storm,” said a local from Muzaffarabad while giving sense of the protests.

He said the Kashmiris are angry because Pakistan has been denying them even the basic rights.

Venting anger at the Pakistani regime and its military after firing on protesters last night, Shaukat Nawaz said, “It has been proven this time that the (Pakistani) State is a terrorist, its rulers are terrorists, its institutions are terrorists. The entire world saw their real face today.’

Pakistan has imposed an information blackout and shut down the Internet, which has severely hampered communication.

Nawaz said the mainstream Pakistani media was spreading lies regarding the agitation.

He said the agitation had been launched under compulsion because the Pakistani regime was in no mood to listen to the grievances of the people of occupied territories of J&K and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The people of PoJK have several serious grievances, particularly regarding efforts by Pakistan to change demography and character of occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit and Baltistan besides looting of the region’s resources and denial of their rights.

They have 38 demands, which include abolition of 12 seats in POJK Assembly reserved ostensibly for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan.

The local Kashmiris say these seats go to the puppets of the Pakistani regime and that, in turn, affects decision-making by the Assembly against the interests of the locals.

Their demands also include implementation of reforms promised last year; renegotiation of hydropower rates so that locals benefit; strengthening of local governance/accountability; and assortment of political-administrative fixes.

They also want subsidised flour for PoK and reduction of power tariffs by linking these to the cost of generation done locally from Mangla Dam.

The locals say that electricity generated from Mangla Dam in POJK should be provided to the local population at the cost at which the generation takes place, instead of the high rates extracted by the Pakistani regime.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the locals are decrying the taxes collected by the Pakistani regime from them. They say it is against even the Constitution of Pakistan. (NVI)

Revolt in POJK, Gilgit-Baltistan: One killed, 25 injured in firing by Pakistani forces

September 30, 2025

Rawalakot/Muzaffarabad (POJK), Sep 29 (NVI) At least one Kashmiri was killed and 25injured today as people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan launched a virtual revolt against the Pakistani regime which has been denying them their rights and resources.

A complete shutdown was observed across the Pakistan-occupied territory and lakhs of people hit the streets, expressing their anger against Pakistan.

Pakistani forces resorted to brutality, including firing at the peaceful protesters, which resulted in the killing of one person, identified as Sadheer Awan of Neelum Valley.

At least 25 others were injured, each having bullet wounds, according to reliable sources from the ground.

“Our protest was peaceful. But in Neelum, government-sponsored people came to disrupt our protest…Then there was firing. They (Pakistani forces) fired directly at our protesters,” said Shaukat Nawaz, the leader of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which is spearheading the agitation.

“One of our youth has been killed and over 25 are injured. Till now, post-mortem has not been conducted, nor has a case been registered against those who fired at the protesters,” he said as he visited the hospital tonight and vowed that “Until, post-mortem is done and FIR lodged, we are not going to move from here.”

Venting anger at the Pakistani regime and its military, the Kashmiri leader said, “It has been proven this time that the (Pakistani) State is a terrorist, its rulers are terrorists, its institutions are terrorists. The entire world saw their real face today.’

Information blackout and Internet shutdown imposed by the occupying regime are making percolation of news difficult.

The people of the occupied territories erupted under the banner of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to press a 38-point charter of demand.

Described as the ‘Azad Jammu Kashmir Rights Movement’, the protest campaign today was marked by total shutdown and processions where anti-Pakistan slogans were raised.

Major centres of the protest were Rawalakot, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Baltistan.

Addressing a protest demonstration earlier in the day, Shaukat Nawaz said the agitation will resume tomorrow and continue until their demands are met.

He said the agitation had been launched under compulsion because the Pakistani regime was in no mood to listen to the grievances of the people of occupied territories of J&K and Gilgit-Baltistan.

As the sea of protesters cheered, Shaukat Nawaz said the protest had been successful on the first day today but exact details were still being obtained from various places as Internet shutdown had made communication extremely difficult.

The massive protests have unnerved the regime in Islamabad, which moved thousands of military troops into the occupied territory from Punjab Province with an aim of crushing the agitation.

But locals, who were able to pass on some information, said, ‘Azad Kashmir’ (the misnomer for POJK) is under siege and people are protesting for their rights. Forces are killing the protesters. There is total blackout and Internet is off. There is a huge lockdown.”

A local also said that the mainstream media of Pakistan was spreading lies regarding the agitation.

The people of PoJK have several grievances, particularly regarding efforts by Pakistan to change demography and character of occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit and Baltistan besides looting of the region’s resources and denial of their rights.

They have 38 demands, which include abolition of 12 seats in POJK Assembly reserved ostensibly for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan.

The local Kashmiris say these seats go to the puppets of the Pakistani regime and that, in turn, affects decision-making by the Assembly against the interests of the locals.

Their demands also include implementation of reforms promised last year; renegotiation of hydropower rates so that locals benefit; strengthening of local governance/accountability; and assortment of political-administrative fixes.

They also want subsidised flour for PoK and reduction of power tariffs by linking these to the cost of generation done locally from Mangla Dam.

The locals say that electricity generated from Mangla Dam in POJK should be provided to the local population at the cost at which the generation takes place, instead of the high rates extracted by the Pakistani regime.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the locals are decrying the taxes collected by the Pakistani regime from them. They say it is against even the Constitution of Pakistan. (NVI)

Huge revolt in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan

September 29, 2025

20250929_213555 — Sea of people in POJK on streets protesting against Pakistan today

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Sep 29 (NVI) A complete shutdown was observed today in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan where lakhs of people came onto the streets and demonstrated against the exploitation and denial of rights by the Pakistani regime.

According to unverified claims by some locals, the Pakistani forces are “killing” protesters but the actual details are not coming because of total blackout of information, including shutdown of Internet, imposed by the occupying regime.

There are claims about Pakistani forces firing at protesters at some places, which have resulted in casualties. But confirmation is awaited.

Described as the ‘Azad Jammu Kashmir Rights Movement’, the protest campaign was marked by anti-Pakistan slogans which roared and echoed across the occupied territory today.

Spearheaded by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), the massive protests have unnerved the regime in Islamabad, which shut down Internet and imposed information blackout besides moving thousands of military troops into the occupied territory from Punjab Province with an aim of crushing the agitation.

Due to the clampdown on information, much details were not immediately available.