6 Killed in Fresh Violence in PoK, India Calls up International Community to Take Note
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 14: At least six people were killed in firing by the Pakistani forces which launched a crackdown on the civilians following clashes near the New Bus Terminal in Rawalakot as the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) witnessed another violent flare-up on Tuesday.
The latest violence has further intensified tensions in the region, where resentment against Islamabad has been steadily increasing.
The complaints against the inhuman treatment of the Pakistani security forces on the civilians in the PoK also reached the US. Just a day before the bloodshed, members of the PoK community in the United States gathered outside the White House in Washington, demanding international attention to what they described as a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the region.
Nearly 100 people, including women, children and community leaders, participated in the demonstration. Protesters called for Pakistani military forces to withdraw from civilian areas across PoK and urged the international community to act against what they alleged was the use of lethal force on unarmed civilians.
The demonstrators also highlighted a prolonged internet shutdown that they claimed had left nearly four million people cut off from the outside world. Locals made an unusual appeal, urging India to intervene to help save lives and facilitate humanitarian relief. They further demanded that the Line of Control be opened through the Poonch and Doda sectors to allow humanitarian assistance to reach affected residents.
Beyond the latest clashes, residents continue to grapple with deep economic distress. A 2025 study published in Nature found that although nearly 66 per cent of the population relies on farming and livestock for survival, more than 57 per cent of households face food insecurity. Nearly 29 per cent of residents are undernourished, well above Pakistan’s national average of 19.9 per cent. In the mountainous parts of the region, the crisis is even more severe, with food insecurity affecting up to 90 per cent of households.
Healthcare indicators paint a similarly troubling picture. According to Pakistan’s Voluntary National Review Report, 39 per cent of children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth, while the maternal mortality ratio stands at 104 deaths for every 100,000 live births.
India also on Tuesday sharply criticised Pakistan over the ongoing unrest in the PoK saying the protests were the result of Islamabad’s “decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression” in the region under its “illegal and forcible occupation.”
The remarks come amid heightened attention on developments in the region and growing scrutiny of the situation on the ground. In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the demonstrations reflected growing frustration among people living under Pakistan’s control and accused Islamabad of responding with force instead of addressing their concerns.
The MEA alleged that Pakistani authorities had responded to the protests with “excessive police brutality” rather than engaging with what it described as the demonstrators’ legitimate grievances.
According to the ministry, the crackdown involved action against “unarmed women and children,” restrictions on the supply of essential items such as food and medicines, internet shutdowns and the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. The statement added that the security response had “led to tragic fatalities.”
India also called on the international community to take note of the situation and hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in the region. The appeal was framed as part of a broader push for global attention on the issue. “We expect and hope that the international community will hold Pakistan fully accountable for these egregious abuses and mistreatment,” the MEA said.
The latest violence has further heightened tensions in the region, where resentment against Islamabad has reportedly been growing in recent months.
