Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is facing a sharp escalation in state violence, with Pakistani security forces reportedly deploying drones to target private homes and moving fresh consignments of heavy weapons into the region, as protests demanding basic amenities and fundamental rights enter their fourth month with no sign of abating. Officials warned on 6 November that the developments point to a looming large-scale offensive, with civilians at grave risk.

From Tear Gas to Drones: The Escalating Crackdown

Earlier attempts by Pakistani forces to suppress the protests — including tear gas, live firing, and lathi charges — failed to deter demonstrators, according to officials. Rather than subduing the agitation, those measures reportedly hardened public resolve and drew more people into the streets.

Forces have now allegedly turned to drone strikes near protest sites and on residential complexes. 'The use of drones on residential complexes is a dangerous escalation in PoK. It indicates that the security forces are ready to kill innocent people so that this could drive fear in the minds of the protesters,' an official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official further warned that the combined deployment of drones and new heavy-weapons consignments signals 'a clear sign that there would be a major escalation in violence,' with 'every likelihood of mass casualties, with civilians being the main target.'

A People's Movement Beyond Rawalakot

The protests, initially led by advocacy coalition Joint Action Awami Committee (JAAC), have evolved into a broader popular movement that has spread from Rawalakot to the regional capital Muzaffarabad. Students from Chehla University and Jamia Kashmir Muzaffarabad have now joined the agitation, expressing solidarity with protesters facing the security crackdown.

'Not only does it signal how wide the protests are reaching, but it is also an indication that the people are not going to take things lying down,' an official said. The largest single protest site remains at D-Chowk in Rawalakot, where security deployment is at its highest — yet, reportedly, not a single protester has vacated the site.

Media Blackout and Alleged Sabotage Operations

Alongside the physical crackdown, Pakistani authorities have reportedly imposed a complete media blackout on PoK developments, with officials noting that no news outlet in Pakistan is currently reporting on the unrest. 'The establishment has further tightened restrictions on the media. Although curbs were already in place, state-fed information continued to be broadcast. However, there is now a complete blackout,' an official said.

Allegations of active sabotage operations have also surfaced. In a recent incident, three security personnel in plain clothes allegedly infiltrated a protest site and attempted to open fire on demonstrators, though protesters reportedly managed to thwart the attempt. Officials accused the establishment of deploying pro-establishment elements to infiltrate and destabilise the agitation.

UN Rights Experts Question JAAC Proscription

The situation has drawn international scrutiny. Six United Nations human rights experts have questioned Pakistan's decision to designate the JAAC as a proscribed terrorist organisation. Officials characterised the move as an attempt by Islamabad to frame its crackdown as counter-terrorism rather than a suppression of civilian protests. Unfulfilled promises made by the Pakistani establishment to JAAC have further deepened public anger, officials said.

What Comes Next

With drones deployed, heavy weapons being moved in, media access cut off, and protest sites holding firm, the situation in PoK appears to be approaching a critical inflection point. Officials cautioned that the combination of these factors points strongly toward an intensified offensive against civilian demonstrators in the days ahead.