Deadly Clashes in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: Causes and Events

At least 11 people were killed Sunday, June 8, 2026, in clashes between police and protesters in Rawalakot, the district capital of Poonch, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, ahead of a major planned demonstration Tuesday, June 10, by a banned civil society group.

The Pakistan-administered Kashmir government deployed federal paramilitary forces and issued strict travel advisories before the protest, which went ahead despite the restrictions.

Key developments

Eleven people died in clashes and over 70 were injured. Sardar Waheed Khan, the Poonch district commissioner, said four police officers and one passerby were killed after being shot by miscreants, along with six protesters. Police chief Liaqat Malik said 23 security personnel and 50 protesters were wounded.

Local authorities issued an advisory on Friday, June 6, urging visitors to avoid the area and asking those already there to leave by Friday evening to avoid unforeseen situations.

Background and causes

Kashmir is a disputed Himalayan region, with both India and Pakistan claiming it in full, while China also controls a portion. Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir - AJK) has a semi-autonomous system with its own prime minister and legislative assembly, but ultimate authority lies with Islamabad. The region's population exceeds four million, per the 2017 census.

The protests stem from the local government's ban of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Action Committee (JAAC) under the 2014 Anti-Terrorism Act, accusing the group of involvement in terrorism and destabilization. Led by activist Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the JAAC is an umbrella organization for traders and civil society groups that emerged in 2023.

The immediate trigger was a dispute over 12 seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir living in other parts of Pakistan in the AJK legislature. Elections on July 27 will choose a 45-seat assembly, including these 12 seats. The JAAC demands their abolition, arguing they do not belong to actual AJK residents.

Abdul Jabbar Nasir, a journalist from Gilgit Baltistan, explained that these seats have existed since the late 1940s and were formalized in the 1974 interim constitution. He warned that abolishing them would undermine Pakistan's United Nations stance on the Kashmir issue and strengthen India's position. The AJK Supreme Court has ruled the seats are constitutionally protected, requiring a constitutional amendment for their removal.

Underlying issues

Experts say the current crisis is part of a deeper debate over governance, political representation, resource allocation, and autonomy in the region. Raja Qaiser Ahmed, director of the Regional Studies Center at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, said the refugee seat issue is a focal point but linked to broader grievances.

The JAAC published a 38-point charter of demands in September and October 2025, including economic relief, anti-corruption investigations, social welfare, and abolition of the 12 reserved seats. The protests trace back to May 2023, when people demonstrated against high electricity bills and wheat shortages.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said 35 of the 38 demands have been met, with the rest either unfeasible or blocked by courts. Ahmed noted the protests highlight tension between constitutional arrangements tied to the Kashmir dispute and growing demands for local accountability and political participation.