Indian and international agencies have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where ongoing protests have already been accompanied by reported killings — including, according to officials, 19 children and seven pregnant women — and where security forces stand accused of deploying excessive force. Officials caution that without urgent intervention, the situation could spiral into large-scale human rights violations on an unprecedented scale.

How the Protests Spread

What began in Muzaffarabad has steadily expanded across PoK. The movement, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), has now reached Rawalakot, where large crowds and vehicle convoys have assembled, awaiting further direction from the organisation's leadership. According to officials, the JAAC has shown no signs of backing down, and its decision to sustain the protests is rooted in a history of failed negotiations and unkept promises by Pakistani authorities.

Pakistan Army's Reported Strategy

While the Prime Minister of PoK has reportedly been instructed to hold direct talks with the JAAC, officials familiar with the matter say this is largely a time-buying exercise. An Intelligence Bureau official said that 'something more sinister is being planned under the leadership of Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.' According to the official, Munir has held several emergency meetings with senior military brass over the past 48 hours, pressing commanders on why the protests had not been contained.

Officials allege that Munir has effectively pre-determined that order will be restored through force rather than political engagement. 'More protests would only mean more atrocities is the message that Munir wants to send out,' one official said. For him, according to these accounts, this has become an 'ego battle' in which he will not permit the establishment to honour any negotiated commitments.

Collective Punishment and Civilian Impact

Beyond physical force, the Pakistani establishment is reportedly disconnecting power and water supplies to scores of households across PoK — a measure analysts describe as collective punishment designed to pressure residents into demanding that the JAAC stand down. The tactic, officials say, is intended to turn the civilian population against the protest movement by making basic amenities contingent on its cessation.

The JAAC's Position and the Terrorist Designation

The JAAC has maintained that any dialogue must be preceded by the lifting of the ban on the organisation. The Pakistani establishment, however, is unlikely to concede this demand, having classified the JAAC as a terrorist organisation — a designation that, analysts argue, provides legal and political cover for the use of lethal force. Observers note that this approach mirrors Pakistan's posture in Balochistan, where groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army carry similar designations.

Security experts warn that such classifications allow Islamabad to frame violent crackdowns as counterterrorism operations, complicating scrutiny by international human rights bodies. As the standoff deepens, agencies fear that violations will mount to a scale not previously witnessed in the region.