At least 30 killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as security forces fire on protesters during elections

Published Jul 30, 04:31 AM UTC

In late July 2026, Pakistani security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters in Rawalakot and Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing at least 30 people during a contested legislative election. The violence erupted amid a three-phase electoral process beginning July 27, marking the bloodiest escalation in a three-year confrontation between the Pakistani state and local Kashmiri populations. The crisis originated in 2023 with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society coalition initially demanding subsidized flour and fair electricity pricing. The movement later expanded to a 38-point charter demanding abolition of 12 reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which locals view as tools for Islamabad to manipulate regional governance. A negotiated agreement between JAAC and the federal government in October 2025 failed to prevent the current violence, which included forcible removal of corpses from hospitals and a communications blackout.