Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif are at the centre of a fresh controversy after the country’s Defence Minister defended the use of force against protesters in the region. Asif said on Tuesday, July 28, that he considers PoK demonstrators “enemies,” placing them in the same category as India, as the region reeled under weeks of unrest that Kashmiri activist groups say has killed dozens since early June.
His remarks came even as India accused Islamabad of oppression and brutality against civilians in the region following fresh reports of firing by Pakistani security forces in Mirpur.
What Did the Pakistan Minister Say About PoK Protesters?
Speaking amid the crackdown, Asif defended the killing of Joint Awami Action Committee activists. He said he places Azad Kashmir protesters in the same category as India and regards them as enemies too. He also ruled out talks with the demonstrators.
The JAAC, a coalition group representing residents of PoK, has been protesting for weeks against 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, along with a wider 38-point charter of demands covering governance and economic reforms.
Why Is Pak-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Witnessing Unrest Right Now?
The JAAC began its protest movement and long march across the region on June 9. According to the group, the crackdown had claimed 40 lives before Monday’s violence, comprising 34 protesters and six police and paramilitary personnel. JAAC later said the toll had climbed further, to more than 60 people, though authorities have disputed these figures and accused some protesters of firing on security personnel.
- The government banned the JAAC last month.
- Elections for PoK’s so-called legislative assembly began in three phases, with Mirpur voting first on July 27.
- The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine of 13 seats in the first phase, according to preliminary results.
- Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf boycotted the polls, saying free and fair elections were not possible.
- Internet and mobile services have been suspended across large parts of PoK.
How Did India Respond to the Pak-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan Minister Controversy?
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly criticised Islamabad’s handling of the unrest. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters on July 28, 2026, that the PoK legislative assembly elections were “cosmetic” and amounted to an attempt by Pakistan to mask its occupation and hide its human rights record in the region.
India has also reiterated its long-standing position that the entire union territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan’s control, are integral parts of the country. New Delhi has described the protests as a consequence of what it calls decades of economic exploitation and administrative neglect by Islamabad in the territory.
Timeline of the PoK Unrest
- June 9, 2026: JAAC begins its long march and protest movement across PoK.
- Late June 2026: Pakistani authorities formally ban the JAAC.
- Through July 2026: Death toll rises steadily amid repeated clashes; talks between JAAC and the government fail to yield a settlement.
- July 27, 2026: First phase of PoK legislative assembly elections held in Mirpur amid violence; JAAC says at least 14 activists killed.
- July 28, 2026: Violence spreads to Mirpur city with fresh firing reported; Asif defends the crackdown, calling protesters “enemies.”
Pak Government’s Position
Officials maintain that law enforcement action was necessary to preserve order during the legislative assembly elections and to prevent protesters from disrupting the democratic process in the region.
Independent verification of casualty figures remains difficult because of the media blackout and suspended internet services in PoK. Describing citizens protesting for governance and economic rights as “enemies” has drawn criticism for conflating domestic dissent with cross-border hostility, a charge Pakistani officials have not yet addressed in detail. This has not been officially confirmed or denied through any independent inquiry.
The Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan Minister row shows no signs of easing as further phases of PoK’s assembly elections are scheduled in Muzaffarabad on August 2 and Poonch on August 10. With casualty figures still contested and communication restrictions in place, independent scrutiny of events in Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains limited for now.