The Pakistan establishment is reportedly planning to infiltrate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) protest sites with hired agitators and alleged terrorists in a bid to manufacture violence, shift the public narrative, and provide cover for its ongoing security crackdown, according to officials. The move comes as peaceful demonstrations led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) continue to hold firm despite sustained pressure from Pakistani security forces.

The Alleged Plan

According to officials, the establishment has directed a group of agitators to enter protest venues and instigate chaos, so that the blame for any resulting violence falls on the protesters themselves. An Intelligence Bureau official said the intent is to reframe the narrative — portraying the people of PoK as the aggressors rather than victims of state brutality.

The tactic, if confirmed, would also serve as retroactive justification for the force Pakistani security personnel have already deployed since the demonstrations began. Human rights groups and sections of the international community have already raised questions about the conduct of Pakistani security forces during the protests.

JAAC's Commitment to Non-Violence

Since the protests erupted, the JAAC has consistently maintained that demonstrators would not resort to violence. Despite reports of brutal force and alleged human rights violations by Pakistani security forces, the protesters have kept the movement peaceful. That discipline, according to officials, is precisely what the establishment is now trying to undermine.

The establishment has also been unable to credibly justify its use of force to domestic or international audiences, compounding pressure on Islamabad, which is already grappling with a severe economic crisis and deteriorating conditions in both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Indian Currency Planted at Protest Site

Notably, a prior attempt to discredit the movement was reportedly foiled by JAAC members themselves. During a recent protest, a man — who identified himself as a police official — was caught allegedly planting Indian currency at the protest venue in Rawalkot. When confronted, he reportedly stated that a senior official had instructed him to drop the notes at the site.

According to officials, the operation was designed to generate images of Indian currency at the protest ground that could then be circulated in Pakistani media, lending credibility to the establishment's earlier claim that the protests were being funded and backed by India. The plan reportedly unravelled only because the individual was intercepted before the currency could be 'discovered.'

Talks Rescheduled, Demands Remain

A formal dialogue between the JAAC and the establishment has been rescheduled from 15 July to 21 July. The JAAC has made clear that the extension was granted solely to allow the government time to meet their demands — and that failure to do so would result in an intensification of the protests.

The core grievances driving the movement include rising inflation, high electricity tariffs, and long-standing governance failures in the region. With the 21 July deadline approaching, the trajectory of the PoK crisis — and Pakistan's response to it — will be closely watched.