Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has equated protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) with India, calling them 'enemies' — a statement analysts say signals an imminent hardline crackdown on the restive territory. The remarks, captured in a video circulating widely on social media, have drawn sharp condemnation and raised alarm over Islamabad's intentions toward the civilian-led protest movement.

The Minister's Remarks

'I put them (protesters) in the same category as India and consider them also as enemies like India,' Asif said in the video. Analyst Sudha Ramachandran, writing in The Diplomat, argued that framing protesters as 'enemies' is a deliberate precursor to a full-scale security response. 'His comment does not bode well for the people of PoJK. By portraying the protesters as enemies, Asif is preparing to deploy the iron fist on PoJK,' Ramachandran wrote.

The Crackdown So Far

At least 21 protesters were killed and dozens more injured on 27 July when Pakistani security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Rawalakot. The protesters, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) — a coalition of traders, students, and civil society groups — had begun marching toward Muzaffarabad when forces launched the crackdown. Videos showing Pakistani security personnel firing on civilians in Rawalakot and other areas have since gone viral. Casualty figures remain difficult to independently verify, as Pakistani authorities imposed a communications blackout across PoJK following the violence.

Who Is the JAAC and What Do They Want

The JAAC, formed in 2023, initially mobilised around grievances over rising wheat prices and electricity tariffs. By 2025, its demands had broadened to include governance and electoral reforms — most notably, the abolition of 'refugee seats' in the PoJK legislative assembly. Of the assembly's 53 seats, 12 are reserved for refugees who migrated from India's Kashmir after 1947, the majority of whom no longer reside in PoJK. An additional 8 seats are reserved for women, ulema (Islamic scholars), and technocrats — leaving only 33 seats open to direct public polling. According to the analysis in The Diplomat, all major political parties in PoJK have historically exploited the refugee seat mechanism to consolidate power.

The Broader Context

Pakistan has long presented PoJK as a self-governing territory, but in practice, key decisions are made in Islamabad. The protests, which had their epicentre in Rawalakot, have now spread to Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and several other districts. 'The protests in PoJK have grown in magnitude over the past two months and their geographic spread has expanded as well,' Ramachandran noted. She added that the Pakistani state's response has grown increasingly lethal as the movement has widened.

What Analysts Warn Could Come Next

'The mounting casualties could transform the mass protests into a political movement. Of course, the Pakistani government can be expected to unleash the full force of their iron fist before the movement morphs into something bigger. Brute force has always been the response of Pakistan's establishment to protests and resistance,' Ramachandran wrote in The Diplomat. With Asif's rhetoric now openly casting protesters as national enemies, observers warn that a sharper escalation may be imminent.