Kashmiri diaspora marches in Brussels, demands UN action over PoK killings
Synopsis
Kashmiri diaspora groups are taking their case to the doorstep of global institutions — marching from the European Parliament to the UN office in Brussels — as a PoK-based rights body documents 93 civilian deaths since June. With British MPs now speaking out and protests spreading from Belgium to Italy, the international pressure campaign over Pakistani forces' conduct in PoK is gaining visible momentum.
Key Takeaways
Kashmiri diaspora members marched from the European Parliament to the UN office in Brussels on Wednesday, 13 August .
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO) recorded 93 civilian deaths in PoK between 5 June and 5 August .
A similar march was held last week in Bologna, Italy , drawing thousands of diaspora members.
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) appealed to the international community to act against alleged civilian killings.
British MPs Liam Byrne and Adnan Hussain have separately called for accountability over the use of force in PoK .
Members of the Kashmiri diaspora in Belgium staged a protest march on Wednesday from the European Parliament to the United Nations office in Brussels, condemning the killing of civilians by Pakistani forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid escalating unrest in the region. The demonstration is part of a growing wave of international protests by Kashmiri diaspora groups demanding global accountability for what they describe as a brutal crackdown.
What the Protesters Demanded
Demonstrators raised slogans against Pakistani security forces and called for urgent international attention to ongoing human rights abuses in PoK. Their demands included an end to restrictions on essential services and a halt to the use of force against civilians as unrest continues to intensify in the occupied territory.
Scale of the Reported Violence
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO), a PoK-based human rights documentation and monitoring body, recorded 93 civilian deaths during the escalating unrest between 5 June and 5 August, according to reports. The figures have not been independently verified by international bodies.
A Growing Global Movement
The Brussels march follows a similar demonstration last week in Bologna, Italy, where thousands of Kashmiri diaspora members gathered to condemn what they called brutalities by Pakistani forces against peaceful protesters. Protesters in both cities expressed solidarity with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group active in PoK.
The JAAC, in a post on social media platform X, said that Kashmiris in Italy staged a strong protest and appealed to the international community to raise their voice against the alleged 'genocide' of unarmed civilians. 'Peaceful demonstrators are only demanding their basic rights,' the JAAC added.
British Parliamentarians Raise Alarm
The protests have drawn political attention beyond the diaspora. Several British parliamentarians have expressed grave concern over the reported use of force against civilians in PoK. Labour Party MP Liam Byrne said reports of live fire being used against peaceful protesters are 'deeply alarming.' Another British MP, Adnan Hussain, called the killing of civilians a 'tragedy' and said any use of excessive or unlawful force by Pakistani authorities must be subject to a 'full, independent, and transparent investigation.'
What Happens Next
With protests spreading across Europe and international legislators speaking out, pressure on multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union to formally acknowledge the situation in PoK is likely to grow. Whether these demonstrations translate into formal diplomatic action remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not just public squares. The JKHRO's figure of 93 civilian deaths, if corroborated by independent international monitors, would represent a serious indictment. What is notably absent so far is any formal response from the UN Human Rights Council or the EU, whose silence contrasts sharply with the growing noise on the streets. The diaspora's coordinated Europe-wide mobilisation signals an organised pressure campaign rather than spontaneous outrage — and that makes it harder for governments to dismiss.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Kashmiri diaspora protest in Brussels?
Members of the Kashmiri diaspora marched in Brussels on 13 August to condemn the reported killing of civilians by Pakistani forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and to demand international intervention. The march was routed from the European Parliament to the United Nations office to draw institutional attention to the crisis.
How many civilian deaths have been reported in PoK?
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO), a PoK-based rights monitoring body, documented 93 civilian deaths during the escalating unrest between 5 June and 5 August, according to reports. These figures have not yet been independently verified by international bodies.
What is the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)?
The JAAC is a civil society group active in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that has been at the centre of anti-government protests in the region. Diaspora protesters in both Brussels and Bologna expressed solidarity with the JAAC and its demands for basic rights for civilians in PoK.
What have British MPs said about the situation in PoK?
Labour Party MP Liam Byrne described reports of live fire against peaceful protesters as 'deeply alarming.' MP Adnan Hussain called the civilian killings a 'tragedy' and demanded a full, independent, and transparent investigation into any excessive or unlawful use of force by Pakistani authorities.
Where else have Kashmiri diaspora protests taken place?
Beyond Brussels, thousands of Kashmiri diaspora members staged a protest march in Bologna, Italy, last week. Demonstrations by diaspora groups have been reported across multiple countries, reflecting a coordinated international pressure campaign over the situation in PoK.
