Asif Equates PoK Demonstrators to National Enemies as Election Violence Spirals
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has rejected further negotiations with protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, labeling them enemies of the state. The move follows violent clashes during legislative elections that have reportedly left at least 20 activists dead.
Hardline Stance Against Joint Awami Action Committee
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on July 28, 2026, that his government will no longer engage in negotiations with protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Asif categorized activists from the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as national enemies, likening them to India. This hardening of rhetoric arrives as the JAAC reports a death toll of 20 people since clashes erupted on July 27.
Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the Prime Minister, supported this exclusion, describing the demonstrators' movements in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur as an India-style assault intended to seize territory by force. While Sanaullah met with the JAAC to receive a list of 38 demands, he denied reports of fatalities among the protesters and accused them of initiating violence against security forces.
Election Turmoil and Allegations of Interference
The first phase of the PoK legislative assembly elections on July 27 saw the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) collect nine of the 13 contested seats. However, accusations of systemic rigging have surfaced, even from within the governing coalition. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed the majority was manufactured to benefit the PML-N. These elections proceeded despite a boycott by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The JAAC’s long-standing grievances center on 12 specific seats in the 53-seat assembly. The group argues that the Pakistani establishment manipulates these positions to dictate regional leadership. Upcoming election phases are scheduled for August 2 and August 10.
Conflicting Reports on Casualties and Human Rights
The JAAC maintains that law enforcement utilized live ammunition against marchers traveling from Rawalakot toward Muzaffarabad. Core committee members Abid Shaheen and Imtiaz Aslam identified victims including Usman Nazir, brother of a founding JAAC member. Conversely, PoK police chief Captain (retd.) Liaquat Ali Malik asserted that protesters were armed with modern weaponry and targeted officers. Malik stated he would not confirm the death toll until bodies are officially processed at medical facilities.
New Delhi has responded to the unrest by characterizing the elections as a tactic to mask illegal occupation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on July 28 that the ongoing civil unrest stems directly from administrative oppression and the denial of fundamental rights. Since June 9, total casualties related to this period of unrest have allegedly reached 60, including both civilians and security personnel. Local authorities have responded to the escalation by cutting internet services and enforcing a media blackout on protest coverage.
Source: The Hindu — World
