Widespread protests erupt across Pakistan-administered Kashmir over alleged resource plunder and political marginalization, even as Islamabad accuses New Delhi of fanning unrest via a “cipher” narrative.

New Delhi: October 7, 2025

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) — long under Islamabad’s administrative control but politically marginalized — is witnessing one of its largest and most persistent uprisings in decades. Over the past two weeks, thousands of residents in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and Mirpur have taken to the streets, denouncing Pakistan’s “oppressive rule” and demanding autonomy, civil rights, and an end to the plundering of local resources.

The unrest, spearheaded by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), has drawn violent crackdowns, leaving at least half a dozen people dead and dozens injured. Internet blackouts and curfews have been imposed, while Islamabad — instead of introspection — is blaming India for “stoking the flames of sedition” through what it claims is an “Indian cipher” network.

The events in PoK have laid bare the deep disconnect between the region’s population and Pakistan’s federal establishment, with implications that go far beyond local governance — cutting into the core of the Kashmir conflict itself.

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1. The Spark: Years of Discontent Ignite in PoK

The protests that began in late September were not sudden. They stem from years of systemic neglect, economic deprivation, and political marginalization that have characterized Islamabad’s rule over the region since 1947.

Local leaders accuse Pakistan of treating PoK as a colony — extracting its natural resources, particularly hydropower, minerals, and timber, while offering little in return. Despite its strategic importance, the region remains one of the most underdeveloped territories under Pakistan’s control.

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), which has led the latest agitation, released a 38-point charter of demands, encompassing constitutional, economic, and civic issues. Among their key demands:

• Restoration of local self-governance and the right to elect their leadership freely.
• A fair share in revenue generated from hydropower and mineral resources.
• End to the arbitrary control of Pakistani bureaucrats over regional administration.
• Recognition of PoK citizens as full political stakeholders rather than “refugees.”
• Access to affordable food, fuel, and employment programs.

Despite their largely peaceful protests, Pakistani forces responded with live fire, tear gas, and mass detentions — turning localized rallies into a full-scale rebellion.

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2. Blood on the Streets: Crackdown and Casualties

By early October, videos from Muzaffarabad and Dadyal showed chaos as demonstrators clashed with police and paramilitary forces. According to local media and eyewitnesses, at least six people were killed and over 50 injured in police firing.

The authorities imposed Section 144, banning large gatherings, and shut down mobile and internet services. Security forces patrolled towns in armored vehicles, arresting protest leaders.

However, instead of quelling anger, the heavy-handed tactics only galvanized public outrage. Women joined the protests, students waved black flags, and slogans of “Azadi from Pakistan” rang through the valley — a striking reversal of Islamabad’s usual claim that PoK is content under its rule.

“The state has turned its guns on its own people,” said AAC spokesperson Tariq Naqvi. “We are not terrorists. We are asking for our rights, not for secession.”

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3. Resource Plundering and Economic Exploitation

One of the core issues fueling the PoK uprising is the perceived economic exploitation by Pakistan. Despite abundant water and mineral resources, locals claim they have seen no benefit.

The region contributes massive hydropower to Pakistan’s national grid — particularly through the Mangla and Neelum-Jhelum dams — yet residents face electricity shortages and soaring tariffs. Timber and mineral extraction is controlled by Pakistani corporations and military-linked enterprises, with little reinvestment in local infrastructure.

As one protester in Rawalakot put it, “They take our water, our forests, our land — and give us poverty and bullets in return.”

This sentiment has become the rallying cry of the movement, echoed by slogans like “Stop plundering PoK’s wealth!” and “We want our share, not your sympathy.”

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4. The 38-Point Charter and Partial Concession

Following days of unrest, Islamabad initiated talks with AAC leaders. Facing mounting domestic and international attention, Pakistan agreed to accept 21 out of the 38 demands raised by the protesters.

The concessions included promises to lower electricity tariffs, improve food subsidies, and review administrative control over local projects.

However, protest leaders described the move as “too little, too late.” Many key issues — including political autonomy, full control over resources, and local legislative empowerment — remain unresolved.

“Our struggle is not about ration cards; it’s about dignity and self-determination,” said AAC leader Sajid Hussain. “Until the structure of occupation changes, we will not stop.”

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5. Islamabad’s Counter-Narrative: Blaming India

Instead of addressing the roots of the rebellion, Islamabad has doubled down on externalizing the blame.

Pakistani ministers and intelligence officials have accused India of orchestrating the protests through a covert “Indian cipher” operation — allegedly involving Indian agents influencing local media and student groups.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that “foreign elements” are “funding propaganda” to destabilize Pakistan’s internal peace, though it provided no verifiable evidence.

Political analysts, however, see this as a familiar diversionary tactic.

“Whenever dissent erupts in Pakistan-controlled territories, India becomes the scapegoat,” said political commentator Ayesha Siddiqa. “It’s easier to blame Delhi than to confront the reality of internal discontent.”

India, on its part, has rejected Islamabad’s accusations, calling them “baseless and diversionary.” New Delhi’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the unrest was “a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and systemic plundering of resources from the region.”

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6. The Broader Context: Kashmir Conflict Reignited

The unrest in PoK has international resonance because of the Kashmir conflict, one of the world’s most intractable territorial disputes.

India has long maintained that Pakistan’s control over PoK is illegal occupation, while Pakistan insists the territory is “Azad Jammu & Kashmir” — a misleading term given Islamabad’s tight administrative grip.

Now, as residents themselves revolt, India has used the moment to reinforce its diplomatic narrative that Pakistan’s governance model in PoK is exploitative and undemocratic.

Indian officials have urged global institutions to investigate human rights violations in the region, citing reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and communication blackouts.

The developments also come at a time when Pakistan faces economic crises, political turmoil, and international isolation — creating what many analysts call a “perfect storm” of instability.

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7. Regional Implications and Risks Ahead

The PoK unrest poses multiple challenges for Pakistan’s leadership:

• Domestic legitimacy crisis: Islamabad’s claim to moral authority over Kashmir is undermined if it cannot maintain peace within its own administered territory.
• Security escalation: The army’s deployment risks transforming civil unrest into insurgency if violence continues.
• International embarrassment: Growing media attention to PoK’s internal dissent undermines Pakistan’s diplomatic standing on Kashmir globally.
• Empowerment of local identity: The protests have revived talk of “Kashmiri nationalism” distinct from both Pakistan and India — a potentially transformative force in the long term.

As one PoK activist stated, “We were told India is the enemy. But now we see the enemy wears our flag.”

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8. A Moment of Reckoning

The uprising in PoK has exposed the fractures in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. What Islamabad portrays as a liberated region is, in reality, a territory caught between administrative neglect and nationalistic assertion.

While Islamabad blames “foreign conspiracies”, the reality is domestic: people demanding accountability, autonomy, and an end to decades of exploitation. Whether Pakistan listens or suppresses further will determine not only PoK’s future but also the credibility of its larger Kashmir stance.

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