PoK crackdown: 40 killed, dozens injured as unrest escalates in July
Synopsis
At least 40 civilians were allegedly killed in just two days as Pakistani forces cracked down on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — with the UKPNP claiming over 100 deaths since June 5. With a communications blackout in place and no independent verification possible, the international community faces mounting pressure to act.
Key Takeaways
At least 40 civilians allegedly killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on 27–28 July , according to the UKPNP .
The UKPNP claims more than 100 people have been killed since 5 June , with hundreds injured and subjected to enforced disappearances.
JAAC leader Sardar Amman Khan described the crackdown as a 'massacre,' citing 38 deaths over two days in an X post .
Affected areas include Rawalakot , Mirpur , and other parts of PoK, which is under curfew and a communications blackout.
The UKPNP has called on the UN and EU to intervene and support independent investigations.
Casualty figures could not be independently verified due to the ongoing communications blackout.
At least 40 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over 27–28 July, according to allegations by the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), as Pakistani security forces reportedly launched a sweeping crackdown on protesters across Rawalakot, Mirpur, and other areas of the occupied territory. The killings mark a sharp escalation in a wave of unrest that, according to the group, has claimed more than 100 lives since 5 June.
What the UKPNP Alleged
The UKPNP on Wednesday, 29 July alleged that approximately 40 civilians were killed and several others were injured and arbitrarily arrested between 27 and 28 July alone. The group further claimed that since 5 June, several hundred people have been critically injured and hundreds more have reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearances by Pakistani security forces.
Condemning what it described as atrocities, the UKPNP stated that the 'use of excessive or unlawful force against peaceful civilians would constitute serious violations of international human rights law and may amount to crimes under international law.' The group has appealed to the United Nations, the European Union, and the broader international community to intervene, calling for independent investigations and respect for international human rights obligations.
JAAC Leader Calls It a 'Massacre'
Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Sardar Amman Khan on Wednesday accused Pakistani forces of killing dozens of protesters over just two days, characterising the crackdown as a 'massacre' of unarmed civilians. In a post on X, Khan wrote: 'In just two days, Pakistani forces have brutally killed 38 peaceful Kashmiri protesters. This is not law enforcement, it is a massacre of unarmed civilians demanding their basic rights.'
Khan further alleged that the situation in PoK continues to deteriorate under heavy repression, with 'peaceful voices met by lethal force' by Pakistani authorities. He demanded an immediate end to the violence, independent investigations, and justice for those killed, warning that the 'world cannot remain silent' as civilians lose their lives.
Ground Situation: Curfew, Blockade, Communications Blackout
According to reports, the region is currently under a strict blockade and curfew, with a near-total communications blackout in place. The ongoing protests across PoK have emerged as a direct challenge to Islamabad's long-standing control over the territory, with Pakistani forces allegedly responding with indiscriminate force against civilian demonstrators.
Notably, the death toll figures cited by the UKPNP and JAAC — 40 and 38 respectively — differ slightly, reflecting the difficulty of independently verifying casualties amid the reported communications blackdown. NationPress could not independently confirm these figures.
International Response and What Comes Next
No formal response from the United Nations or European Union had been issued at the time of reporting. The UKPNP has called for impartial and independent investigations into the reported incidents. With the region under a communications blackout, access for independent journalists and rights monitors remains severely restricted, making verification of casualty figures and the broader situation difficult.
As international pressure mounts, the trajectory of the unrest — and Islamabad's response — will be closely watched by human rights organisations and regional observers in the days ahead.
Point of View
Dozens more in a single weekend — are staggering, yet almost entirely dependent on a single advocacy group and one political leader, both with clear stakes in the narrative. The communications blackout Islamabad has imposed is itself an accountability vacuum: it prevents verification while amplifying the worst-case figures. The international community's silence so far is notable. If even a fraction of the UKPNP's claims are accurate, this is one of the most severe episodes of state violence in the region in years — and it is receiving a fraction of the global attention it would command elsewhere.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been killed in PoK according to reports?
According to allegations by the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), at least 40 civilians were killed on 27–28 July alone, with more than 100 deaths claimed since 5 June. JAAC leader Sardar Amman Khan cited a figure of 38 deaths over the same two-day period. These figures have not been independently verified.
Which areas of PoK have been affected by the crackdown?
The reported killings and crackdown have taken place across Rawalakot, Mirpur, and other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the UKPNP. The region is reportedly under curfew, a strict blockade, and a near-total communications blackout.
What has the UKPNP demanded from the international community?
The UKPNP has called on the United Nations, the European Union, and the wider international community to take immediate steps to protect civilians, support impartial and independent investigations into the reported incidents, and encourage respect for international human rights obligations.
What did JAAC leader Sardar Amman Khan say about the crackdown?
Sardar Amman Khan described the crackdown as a 'massacre of unarmed civilians,' alleging in a post on X that Pakistani forces killed 38 peaceful protesters in just two days. He called for an immediate end to the violence and demanded independent investigations and justice for those killed.
Why is it difficult to verify the casualty figures from PoK?
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is reportedly under a communications blackout and strict curfew, severely restricting access for independent journalists and human rights monitors. As a result, the casualty figures cited by the UKPNP and JAAC cannot be independently confirmed at this time.
