'No Food, Hundreds Detained': PoK Activists Allege Massive Crackdown By Pakistan

As internet services remain suspended and civil unrest grows, reports of a severe military response in the region have triggered international outcry.

The simmering discontent in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has reached a boiling point, with local activist groups painting a grim picture of state-led repression. As residents in areas like Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot face severe shortages of essentials—leading to widespread cries that there is "no food" for the common man—the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has alleged that a massive crackdown by Pakistan is currently underway to silence dissent.

According to figures cited by the JAAC, the security situation has deteriorated sharply over the past week, with hundreds detained across the territory. Activists claim that over 450 people have been taken into custody since the unrest began, while many others remain missing following confrontations near the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalakot. These allegations of state-sponsored violence, including claims that security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters, have been met with a near-total information blackout.

A Region Under Digital Siege

Communication channels across the region remain in tatters. Reports indicate that internet services and mobile networks have been systematically disrupted in major towns, including Poonch, Mirpur, and Neelum Valley. For the residents, this digital isolation serves as a precursor to even harsher measures, preventing news of the alleged military excesses from reaching the outside world.

The scale of the unrest has not gone unnoticed by the Kashmiri diaspora. In the United Kingdom and the United States, protesters have taken to the streets to question the restrictions and express solidarity with those back home. These global demonstrations reflect a growing frustration among overseas groups, who accuse Pakistan’s civil-military establishment of prioritizing control over the basic rights of the populace.

The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters

This is more than just a localized protest over resource management; it represents a deepening rift between the administration and a population that feels economically and politically abandoned. When a state responds to public grievances—often sparked by inflation and the rising cost of living—with force rather than dialogue, the resulting vacuum of trust is difficult to repair.

The pattern of shutting down communication networks and relying on security-heavy tactics suggests that authorities are currently prioritizing the suppression of dissent over long-term stabilization. If the government fails to address the underlying economic hardships and the claims of human rights abuses, the risk of sustained instability in the region will only grow, potentially inviting greater international scrutiny and pressure on Islamabad to provide transparency and accountability.