The violent crackdown on protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — marked by the killing of dozens of civilians, sweeping communication blackouts, and the deployment of anti-terrorism laws against local activists — directly threatens the conditions under which Pakistan retains privileged, duty-free access to the European Union market, according to a detailed report published in The European Conservative.

Scale of the Crackdown

As many as 90 people have reportedly been killed in PoK by Pakistani security forces since early June. Amnesty International documented at least 40 deaths up to 28 July, while local sources placed the toll above 70. Beyond the fatalities, authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on telephone and internet services, effectively cutting off information flow from the region. Pakistan's national cybercrime agency also blocked YouTube channels belonging to journalists and opposition figures, according to Spanish journalist and analyst Javier Villamor, writing in The European Conservative.

What the EU's GSP+ System Requires

Since 2014, Pakistan has benefited from the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which grants zero import duties on more than two-thirds of its tariff lines. Currently, more than 85 per cent of Pakistan's exports to Europe enter duty-free and quota-free under the arrangement. However, these benefits are conditional, not unconditional.

'The EU requires the effective implementation of international conventions covering civil rights, freedom of expression and association, judicial guarantees, the prohibition of torture, labour rights, and protection against forced and child labour. Signing the treaties is not enough; Pakistan must also demonstrate a proactive approach in these areas,' Villamor wrote.

The EU has been actively monitoring developments in Pakistan. The PoK protests and the state's response to them fall squarely within the human rights benchmarks that GSP+ eligibility hinges upon.

Broader Concerns Flagged by EU Monitors

The crackdown in PoK is not the only issue drawing European scrutiny. According to the report, EU monitoring has also highlighted the trial of civilians by military courts, the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and systematic restrictions on political opposition activity — all of which compound Pakistan's compliance risks under the scheme.

Press Freedom Under Siege

On 14 August, leading international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Pakistani authorities to release detained journalists and end what it described as a sweeping crackdown on media professionals in PoK. RSF expressed grave concern over internet outages, the blocking of international outlet Al Jazeera, journalist arrests, travel restrictions on foreign reporters, court summons, and a broader pattern of press freedom violations escalating at an alarming rate.

The organisation noted that protests demanding electoral reform in PoK — ahead of the so-called 'legislative assembly elections' held from 27 July — were violently suppressed, resulting in mass arrests and intensified media restrictions in the region.

What Comes Next

The EU has the authority to initiate a formal GSP+ review and, in extreme cases, suspend preferential access. Pakistan's economic dependence on the arrangement — which covers the bulk of its textile and garment exports to Europe — makes any downgrade consequential. Whether Brussels moves from monitoring to formal action will depend on how Islamabad responds to mounting international pressure in the weeks ahead.