Credible intelligence inputs indicate that the Pakistani establishment is actively considering eliminating the top leadership of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in order to suppress the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to officials. The warning comes as the JAAC prepares for a massive march on Muzaffarabad, defying security force blockades and direct threats to its leaders.

What the Intelligence Indicates

An Intelligence Bureau official stated that the patience of the Pakistani establishment — particularly the Pakistan Army — is rapidly running out. Field Marshal Asim Munir, who heads the army, has reportedly been pressuring the civilian government not to concede to the demands of PoK's people and has, according to the official, instructed security forces to use 'brute force' to suppress the movement.

'He is growing increasingly frustrated and it is just a matter of time before he orders the killing of the top leadership,' the official said. Munir is also said to be under pressure to project normalcy in the region, given that the situation has drawn attention on the international stage.

JAAC's Response and Resolve

Despite repeated warnings and threats, the JAAC has refused to stand down. Its leadership has acknowledged the threat to their lives and made an emotional appeal to supporters: even if all of them are killed, the movement must continue as a people's uprising. The committee has announced it will surround Muzaffarabad at any cost, with women and children also set to participate in the march and sit-ins.

Officials noted that the nature of the protests has evolved significantly. What began as a demonstration centred on specific demands has, in the face of a heavy crackdown, transformed into a broader resistance movement.

Grievances Driving the Protests

The JAAC has been at the forefront of protests over rising living costs, political discrimination, atrocities against minorities, and administrative neglect in PoK. The committee accuses the Pakistani establishment of suppressing dissent rather than addressing the legitimate concerns of the region's population. Pakistani security forces have reportedly not spared even women and children, according to officials, and have set up blockades, warning that any attempt to breach them would be met with 'immediate and stern kinetic action.'

India's Position

India has formally raised concerns over the use of force in PoK. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the local populace, the Pakistani state has responded with extreme police brutality, including against helpless women and children, blocking essential supplies, including food and medicine, enforcing internet blackouts, and deploying lethal force against unarmed civilians that has resulted in tragic fatalities.'

What Comes Next

Officials warn the situation is poised to deteriorate further as the JAAC's planned march proceeds. With the Pakistani security apparatus having blocked essential supplies including food and medicine, and imposed internet blackouts, the humanitarian dimension of the crisis is intensifying. The international community's response — and whether it translates into meaningful pressure on Islamabad — will be a key variable in the days ahead.