Pakistan is simultaneously projecting itself as a global peacemaker while unleashing what observers describe as a brutal crackdown on civilians in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) — a contradiction that a report in the European Times says reflects a single policy designed for two separate audiences. The report, published amid escalating unrest in the region, argues that Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has built international credibility through mediation while authorising violence against his own civilian population.

The Crackdown in PoJK

Over 50 civilians have reportedly been killed and hundreds more injured in a crackdown by Pakistani security forces in PoJK over recent days, according to reports. The unrest follows a pattern eerily similar to the violence witnessed during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests in November 2024, when security forces allegedly used live ammunition against demonstrators.

The region's largest civic movement, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), has been banned under anti-terrorism laws, and a near-total communications blackout has been imposed. Critics argue that elections held under such conditions carry no democratic legitimacy. Traders and lawyers participating in civic protests have reportedly been branded 'terrorists' by Pakistani authorities.

What Pakistani Officials Said

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif drew sharp criticism after he reportedly told a television channel that he places the protesters in the 'same category' as India, describing them as 'enemies of the state' and rejecting any possibility of dialogue. The remarks were made as the civilian death toll in PoJK continued to rise, according to reports.

The European Times report noted that the contrast between Asif's stance and Pakistan's external diplomatic posture is 'impossible to miss.'

Munir's Diplomatic Record and the Contradiction

The same period that saw violence in PoJK also saw Field Marshal Munir flying to Tehran at what the report describes as 'the most dangerous point of the crisis,' presiding over 21 hours of American and Iranian talks in April, and hosting a 14-point Islamabad memorandum in June 2026. US President Donald Trump publicly praised Munir's efforts to pull the two sides back from the brink.

'The military institution selling restraint abroad authorised live fire at home in the same quarter,' the European Times report stated. Critics argue that Munir's diplomatic capital has effectively shielded the military establishment from international scrutiny over its domestic conduct.

A Pattern of Repression

According to the report, the domestic audience in Pakistan is structurally marginalised — anyone who questions what it calls the 'rigged' system faces violence at the hands of the military establishment. The communications blackout in PoJK, the banning of civic organisations under anti-terrorism statutes, and the use of live fire against protesters are cited as evidence of a systemic pattern rather than isolated incidents.

'Batons and bullets may clear a street, but they cannot extinguish public grievances in Pakistan,' the report observed, warning that the 'hypocrisy of being a peacemaker outside and brazen dictatorship at home won't last long for the military establishment.'

What Comes Next

With the JAAC banned and communications restricted, independent verification of casualty figures from PoJK remains difficult. International human rights organisations have yet to issue formal findings. Analysts watching the region say the scale of the reported crackdown — if confirmed — could test the diplomatic goodwill Munir has accumulated, particularly among Western governments that publicly credited his mediation role.