Kashmiri diaspora protests outside European Parliament over PoK killings
Synopsis
Kashmiri protesters brought their grievances to the doorstep of the European Parliament in Brussels, while a UK Conservative MP told the British Parliament that Pakistani forces had fired live ammunition on peaceful demonstrators in PoK — with death tolls ranging from 11 (official) to as many as 30 (protester groups). The APPG on Kashmir has formally written to the UK Foreign Secretary demanding action.
Key Takeaways
Kashmiri diaspora members protested outside the European Parliament in Brussels on 19 June , condemning alleged killings in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) .
Pakistani authorities reportedly acknowledge at least 11 deaths ; protester groups claim 20–30 deaths and over 200 injuries .
UK Conservative Party leader and MP Bob Blackman condemned the crackdown in the British Parliament , calling it a 'despicable action' .
30 members of the APPG on Kashmir have written to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urging intervention.
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has been leading protests in PoK demanding access to food, electricity, and healthcare.
Members of the Kashmiri diaspora in Belgium staged a demonstration outside the European Parliament in Brussels on 19 June, condemning the killings of civilians in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and demanding international accountability for alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani authorities in the region.
What Protesters Demanded
Demonstrators gathered with banners bearing slogans including 'Stop human rights violations in PoJK', 'Return the bodies to their families', 'Release detainees, families deserve answers', and 'Europe must hear'. The protest drew attention to what organisers described as a sustained crackdown on civilians and activists in PoK.
Addressing the crowd, one protester issued a direct challenge to the institution looming behind them. 'On the right stands the European Parliament, a symbol of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Yet for 13 days, as our people have been killed, disappeared, and besieged, this institution has remained silent. Today, I ask, can you hear our screams now? Can you see our blood now? Can you count our dead now?' the protester said.
UK Parliament Raises the Alarm
The Brussels protest coincided with sharp criticism in the British Parliament, where Bob Blackman, leader of the UK Conservative Party and a sitting Member of Parliament, condemned what he called a 'despicable action' by Pakistani forces against peaceful demonstrators in PoK.
Blackman cited conflicting casualty figures, noting that Pakistani authorities had reported at least 11 deaths and several injuries, while protester groups put the toll at 20 to 30 deaths and over 200 injuries. He also flagged that a number of British nationals were reportedly among the injured, and alleged that Pakistani forces had fired live ammunition on peaceful protesters and carried out arbitrary arrests.
APPG Letter to the UK Foreign Secretary
Blackman disclosed that 30 members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir had written to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging intervention over the deteriorating situation. He pressed for a formal government statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
'I would just echo the fact that we want to see action from the Foreign Secretary and our FCDO department on calling out Pakistan for taking this despicable action against peaceful protesters. So could the leader arrange for a statement next week from the foreign secretary on this particular issue?' Blackman stated in Parliament.
Background and Broader Context
The protests in PoK were reportedly led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group that has been demonstrating for basic rights including access to food, electricity, and healthcare. Blackman noted that Pakistan's occupation of part of the Kashmir Valley has persisted since 1947, and that the JAAC's demonstrations represent a grassroots demand for fundamental rights — not a separatist movement.
This comes amid growing international scrutiny of Pakistan's governance record in PoK. The Brussels demonstration marks one of the more visible attempts by the Kashmiri diaspora in Europe to push the issue onto the agenda of a major multilateral institution. Whether the European Parliament responds formally remains to be seen.
Point of View
And that vacuum is being filled by competing narratives. Bob Blackman's intervention in Westminster is notable less for its rhetorical force and more for the institutional lever it activates: a formal APPG letter to the Foreign Secretary creates a paper trail that the FCDO cannot easily ignore. The real test is whether the European Parliament, which was explicitly called out by protesters for its silence, moves beyond symbolic acknowledgement.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kashmiris protest outside the European Parliament in Brussels?
Members of the Kashmiri diaspora in Belgium demonstrated outside the European Parliament on 19 June to condemn alleged killings and human rights abuses by Pakistani authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Protesters called on European institutions to break their silence and demand accountability from Pakistan.
How many people have been killed in the PoK crackdown?
Pakistani authorities have reported at least 11 deaths, while protester groups claim the toll is between 20 and 30, with over 200 injured. Independent verification of the figures is not available, according to reports.
What did UK MP Bob Blackman say about the PoK situation?
Bob Blackman, UK Conservative Party leader and MP, told the British Parliament that Pakistani forces had fired live ammunition on peaceful protesters in PoK, carried out arbitrary arrests, and that British nationals were reportedly among the injured. He described the crackdown as a 'despicable action' and called for a formal statement from the UK Foreign Secretary.
Who are the Joint Awami Action Committee and what are they protesting for?
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is a civil society group operating in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that has been staging demonstrations demanding access to basic rights including food, electricity, and healthcare. Their protests are not separatist in nature but focus on fundamental civic entitlements.
What action has the UK government been asked to take?
Thirty members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir have written to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urging intervention. MP Bob Blackman additionally called on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to formally condemn Pakistan's actions and sought a parliamentary statement from the Foreign Secretary.
