MUZAFFARABAD/LONDON/BERLIN/ISLAMABAD: The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has called on members of the Kashmiri diaspora to organize demonstrations outside Pakistani embassies and consulates worldwide, as tensions continue to rise in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir, AJK).
The appeal comes amid renewed political unrest, reported communication disruptions, and preparations for fresh rounds of demonstrations within the region.
The JAAC, along with affiliated leaders and supporters, has urged overseas Kashmiris to stage protests outside Pakistani diplomatic missions in various countries. The call seeks to draw international attention to alleged restrictions on civil liberties in AJK, highlight long-standing economic and governance-related grievances, and express solidarity with ongoing protest movements. The appeal has been circulating through social media platforms and activist networks, reflecting a pattern of mobilisation seen during earlier protest cycles.
The current mobilisation effort comes amid a broader pattern of recurring mass protests in AJK led by the JAAC, a coalition of traders, transport unions, lawyers, and students. In recent years, the group has organised large-scale strikes and marches over issues including electricity tariffs, wheat and food subsidies, governance and administrative reforms, and elite privileges. During earlier protest waves in 2024 and 2025, these actions brought significant parts of the region to a standstill and resulted in negotiations with authorities following clashes and arrests.
In previous protest cycles, authorities in AJK imposed temporary internet and mobile service shutdowns during periods of heightened unrest, citing public order and security concerns. Similar communication disruptions were reported during the 2025 region-wide strikes, when mobile internet services were suspended in multiple districts to limit coordination among protest groups. Human rights observers and local activists have criticized such measures, arguing that they restrict freedom of expression and access to information during politically sensitive periods.
The latest call also reflects a continuing pattern of diaspora mobilisation. During earlier phases of unrest, demonstrations were held outside Pakistani consulates in cities such as London and Birmingham. Kashmiri diaspora groups have previously expressed support for JAAC’s demands, and protests abroad have highlighted concerns over economic conditions and governance in AJK. Footage from earlier cycles shows rallies outside Pakistani diplomatic missions across several European cities.
Overall, the situation in AJK remains fluid and politically sensitive. Ongoing mobilisation efforts inside the region, unresolved political and economic demands, and increasing diaspora activism continue to shape developments. Observers say the coming days will determine whether renewed dialogue emerges or whether the region enters another cycle of strikes, protests, and administrative shutdowns.
