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PoK Protests Reach The White House

A day before the deadly crackdown, members of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) diaspora in the United States staged a protest outside the White House in Washington, urging the international community to take note of what they described as a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.

Nearly 100 people, including women, children and community leaders, participated in the demonstration. The protesters called for the withdrawal of Pakistani military forces from civilian areas across PoK and urged global powers to intervene over the alleged use of lethal force against unarmed civilians.

The demonstrators also raised concerns over a prolonged internet shutdown, claiming it had cut off nearly four million residents from the outside world. They made an unusual appeal to India, seeking humanitarian intervention to help protect lives and facilitate relief for those affected.

The protesters further demanded that the Line of Control (LoC) be opened through the Poonch and Doda sectors to allow humanitarian aid to reach residents in the region.

Even beyond the latest violence, locals continue to face severe economic hardship, with growing public anger over governance, essential services and living conditions.

India Reacts To PoJK Protest

India on Tuesday sharply criticised Pakistan over the continuing protests in PoJK, accusing Islamabad of decades of systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression in the region.

Reacting to the unrest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the protests were a direct consequence of Pakistan's long-standing policies in the territory under its "illegal and forcible occupation."

"The ongoing protests in PoJK are a direct consequence of Pakistan's decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation," the MEA said in a statement.