PoK atrocities must concern world, says MEA after Norway-Pakistan Kashmir talks
Synopsis
As Norway and Pakistan issued a joint statement referencing Kashmir, India's MEA flipped the script — demanding the world look not at Kashmir but at PoK, where the JAAC claims over 50 people have been killed in a crackdown that has turned a utility-price protest into a full-blown political uprising against Islamabad.
Key Takeaways
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on 14 August called on the international community to focus on atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) .
The statement followed a meeting in Islamabad between Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide and Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar , whose joint communiqué referenced Kashmir.
India reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are 'integral and inalienable' parts of India.
JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri claims more than 50 people killed and hundreds injured in Pakistani security force crackdowns in PoK.
Unrest in PoK began over rising electricity and commodity prices and has grown into a demand for political reform and representative government.
Thousands reportedly joined protest rallies across PoK on Thursday in solidarity with the JAAC.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, 14 August called on the international community to focus on the ongoing atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), firmly reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remain integral and inalienable parts of India. The statement came in direct response to a joint communiqué issued after a meeting in Islamabad between Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, which referenced discussions on regional issues including Kashmir.
What the MEA Said
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, was unequivocal. 'The whole of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. The issues that should concern the international community are the atrocities currently being perpetrated in the illegal Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the use of PoK for cross-border terrorism,' Jaiswal stated.
India's response signals a deliberate counter-framing: rather than engage with Pakistan's preferred narrative of Kashmir as a bilateral dispute, New Delhi is directing global attention toward what it describes as state-sponsored violence within PoK itself.
Situation on the Ground in PoK
PoK is currently witnessing what observers describe as its most extensive confrontation between the local population and the Pakistani state in decades. The unrest — marked by deadly violence, internet shutdowns, and allegations of police brutality — initially erupted over rising prices of electricity and essential commodities. It has since evolved into a broader movement demanding political reforms, greater accountability, and representative governance.
Several videos circulating on social media, including on the handle of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), have purportedly shown the conduct of Pakistani security forces during the crackdown. Among the footage reportedly shared online was footage of women protesters fleeing as local police allegedly opened fire on a peaceful rally in Kotli, PoK.
Casualty Claims and Protest Scale
JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri has claimed that more than 50 people have been killed and hundreds injured during what he described as a brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces in PoK. These figures have not been independently verified.
On Thursday, thousands of people reportedly participated in protest rallies across several parts of PoK, expressing solidarity with the JAAC and raising voices against the violence that activists say has continued for several months.
The Norway-Pakistan Backdrop
The MEA's statement was triggered by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide's visit to Islamabad on Thursday, where he met Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. Their joint statement mentioned discussions on 'regional issues, including Kashmir' — language that New Delhi has consistently pushed back against, viewing any third-party framing of Kashmir as a contested territory as contrary to India's constitutional position.
This is not the first time India has responded sharply to foreign interlocutors engaging Pakistan on Kashmir. The pattern underscores the enduring diplomatic sensitivity of the issue, particularly around Independence Day.
What Comes Next
New Delhi is unlikely to engage further with the Norway-Pakistan joint statement beyond this rebuttal. However, the MEA's explicit linkage of PoK unrest to international concern suggests India may seek to raise the issue in multilateral forums. How the international community responds — and whether Norway or others acknowledge the PoK situation — will shape the next diplomatic beat.
Point of View
New Delhi attempts to neutralise the diplomatic dividend Pakistan sought from the Norway meeting. The move is consistent but its effectiveness depends on whether credible third-party documentation of the PoK crackdown reaches multilateral forums — something India has historically struggled to mobilise. The JAAC's claim of 50-plus deaths, if verified internationally, could meaningfully shift the conversation. Until then, this remains a battle of narratives, and Pakistan retains the structural advantage of framing Kashmir as unfinished decolonisation business in UN corridors.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did India's MEA comment on the Norway-Pakistan meeting on Kashmir?
India's MEA responded because Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar issued a joint statement after their Islamabad meeting that referenced discussions on 'regional issues, including Kashmir.' New Delhi views any third-party framing of Kashmir as a contested issue as contrary to its constitutional position that J&K and Ladakh are integral parts of India.
What is happening in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) right now?
PoK is experiencing its most significant public uprising in decades, according to reports. Protests that began over rising electricity and commodity prices have expanded into demands for political reform and accountability, with JAAC claiming over 50 people killed and hundreds injured in security force crackdowns. Internet shutdowns and allegations of police brutality have also been reported.
Who is the JAAC and what role are they playing?
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is a civil society grouping in PoK that has been at the forefront of the ongoing protests. JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri has claimed more than 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries during crackdowns by Pakistani forces, though these figures have not been independently verified.
What is India's official position on Jammu and Kashmir?
India's official position, reiterated by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on 14 August, is that 'the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India.' New Delhi does not recognise Pakistan's presence in PoK as legitimate, describing it as 'illegal occupation.'
What did Norway and Pakistan discuss regarding Kashmir?
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday. Their joint statement said they discussed 'regional issues, including Kashmir,' without elaborating. India's MEA responded the following day, urging the international community to instead focus on atrocities in PoK and cross-border terrorism.
