Members of the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom staged a demonstration outside the British Parliament in London on 22 June, before marching to 10 Downing Street to condemn alleged food blockades and the killing of civilians in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by Pakistani forces. Protesters urged the UK government to intervene urgently on humanitarian grounds.

What the Protesters Demanded

Demonstrators carried banners reading 'Stop the killings' and 'Human without human rights' as they made their way through central London. One protester alleged that food supplies and medicines were being blocked from reaching several areas in PoK by Pakistani authorities, causing severe hardship for residents.

'People are dying because of hunger. People dying before they can reach the hospital. It's totally unacceptable. You have over a million Kashmiris living in the UK. You have responsibility here. You need to intervene for the sake of humanity,' the protester said, directly addressing the British government.

The demonstrators issued a three-point call to action: the immediate lifting of what they described as a humanitarian blockade and curfew conditions, the restoration of food supply chains, and the restoration of medicine access to hospitals and elderly patients. They also called on the UK government to ensure the safety of British nationals reportedly stranded in PoK.

British MP Condemns Pakistan's Crackdown

The protest follows remarks made in the British Parliament the previous week by Bob Blackman, the Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament, who strongly condemned what he described as a 'despicable action' by Pakistani authorities against protesters in PoK.

Speaking in the House, Blackman stated: 'The illegal occupation of part of the Kashmir Valley by Pakistan has been going on since 1947. Recently the Joint Awami Action Committee, which has operated in the illegally occupied part of Kashmir, has been demonstrating for basic rights to food, electricity, and healthcare.'

Blackman added that Pakistani forces had reportedly launched a severe crackdown, with official Pakistani figures citing at least 11 deaths and many injuries, while protester groups reported 20 to 30 deaths and over 200 injuries. He also flagged reports of arbitrary arrests and the use of live ammunition on peaceful protesters, and indicated that a number of British nationals may have been injured.

Background: Unrest in PoK

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society grouping active in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has been at the forefront of protests demanding basic rights including food subsidies, reliable electricity, and access to healthcare. The movement has drawn international attention as reports of a security crackdown and civilian casualties have surfaced. This comes amid longstanding disputes over the status of the region, which has been under Pakistani administration since 1947.

Notably, the divergence between official Pakistani casualty figures and those reported by protester groups underscores the difficulty of independently verifying ground conditions in the region.

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether the UK government will formally raise the matter with Islamabad. The presence of a significant Kashmiri diaspora — reportedly over one million people — gives the issue political weight in British domestic politics. Advocacy groups say they will continue pressure campaigns until the blockade is lifted and an independent humanitarian assessment is permitted.