The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, 23 June flatly rejected Pakistan's allegations linking India to the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling them 'fabricated claims' designed to distract from Islamabad's own human rights record in the region. The rejection came during the MEA's weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

India's Categorical Rejection

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed accusations made by Pakistan's Defence Minister, who had blamed India for the violence in PoK. Jaiswal was unsparing in his response: 'Such remarks are desperate attempts by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses. We categorically reject these fabricated claims with the contempt that they deserve.'

Jaiswal attributed the protests to what he described as Pakistan's decades-long policy of 'systemic economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.'

Allegations of State Brutality in PoK

India has accused Pakistani authorities of responding to the unrest with 'extreme police brutality,' including blocking of essential supplies and medicines, internet blackouts, and the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. 'Several people have also lost their lives,' Jaiswal noted, calling on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for what he termed 'misdeeds and human rights abuses.'

This is not the first such statement from New Delhi. On 9 June, India had similarly condemned what it called a 'pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan,' accusing Islamabad of attempting to obscure reports of police brutality in which, according to India's statement, several people had been killed and many more injured.

Background: The JAAC Crackdown and Rawalakot Clashes

The unrest traces back to a decision by Pakistani authorities in the occupied territory to designate the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws, ahead of a planned protest on 9 June. The move triggered clashes, particularly in Rawalakot city, where reports suggest dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured in confrontations between law enforcement personnel and protesters.

The JAAC had been a vocal platform for civil society grievances in PoK, including demands over electricity tariffs and flour subsidies. Its proscription under anti-terrorism statutes drew sharp criticism from rights groups.

International Condemnation and Calls for Accountability

Several international human rights organisations, activists, and members of the Kashmiri diaspora across the globe have condemned the killings of civilians in PoK, calling for international scrutiny of the situation. India has amplified these calls, framing its statements as consistent with its broader position that PoK remains territory under Pakistan's 'illegal and forcible occupation.'

With global attention now on the region, the pressure on Pakistan to provide independent access to PoK — and to account for the reported casualties — is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.