Hundreds of school children in uniforms, accompanied by their teachers and parents, gathered at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Monday, 14 July to condemn the Pakistani military's ongoing crackdown in the occupied territory. The demonstration, marked by waving white flags and anti-army slogans, came in direct defiance of a warning issued by Pakistani authorities just a day earlier.

Children Defy Government Warning

Pakistani authorities on Sunday warned that the recently proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) would be held accountable for any untoward incident involving students during its planned protests, according to local media reports. Undeterred, students turned out in large numbers on Monday carrying banners that read 'International Media Give Us Coverage' and raised slogans against the Pakistani Army, including: 'Yeh jo deshatgardi hai, iske peeche wardi hai!' (Behind the terrorism is the uniform).

Scale of the Crackdown

The protests are part of a wider wave of unrest sweeping PoK, where Pakistani forces have reportedly unleashed a crackdown that has left dozens of civilians dead and injured, according to reports. The region is said to be under a strict blockade, curfew, and communications blackout, severely limiting independent verification of the situation on the ground. This is the most sustained civilian uprising in the occupied territory in recent memory, and it is unfolding under near-total information suppression.

UKPNP Conference Raises Human Rights Alarm

The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) convened a conference bringing together leaders, journalists, and civil society representatives from across PoK and the global diaspora to address the deteriorating situation. Participants called on Pakistani authorities to immediately end the use of force, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances; release all detained individuals and produce them before courts; and ensure the unconditional return of the bodies of those killed since 5 June. The conference also demanded withdrawal of the ban on JAAC, restoration of internet and mobile services, and resumption of essential supplies including food and medicines. Notably, participants specifically urged the removal of Pakistani security forces from hospitals to ensure safe medical access for civilians.

JAAC Long March and Fresh Casualties

Last week, JAAC announced a long march towards Muzaffarabad on 15 July, urging people across the region to participate in large numbers. The committee also cited reports claiming that two more young men were killed in firing by Pakistani forces as tensions continued to escalate. In a post on social media platform X, JAAC said: 'Every ruler sitting in the Muzaffarabad Assembly is responsible for this massacre — people will remember that the killers of these young men of ours are the Pakistani forces and the rulers of Muzaffarabad.' The group added: 'On one side, we are lifting the bodies of our young brothers; the remains of those killed a month ago are still kept in custody, and on the other side, the rulers are turning this massacre into an election celebration by ignoring it. We will take revenge for the blood of the deceased from these killers.'

What Comes Next

With the JAAC long march towards Muzaffarabad scheduled for 15 July, the situation in PoK is expected to intensify further. International human rights organisations and diaspora groups have been called upon to amplify the crisis, as the communications blackout continues to limit direct reporting from the region.