By South Asia Press News Desk

As Jammu & Kashmir accelerates toward economic self-sufficiency and social vibrancy under Indian administration, the Pakistani-administered Kashmir—often branded “Azad Kashmir”—grapples with deepening unrest, economic stagnation, and governance failures.

Recent protests in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, sparked by skyrocketing utility bills and food costs, have evolved into a full-throated rebellion against Islamabad’s control, exposing the fragility of a region long propped up by subsidies rather than sustainable growth. In stark contrast, Indian Kashmir has transformed since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, drawing investments, tourists, and talent while fostering an environment of normalcy and opportunity.

This disparity isn’t accidental. Experts and observers point to proactive Indian policies versus Pakistan’s reliance on aid and suppression, with Pakistani-administered Kashmir’s woes culminating in deadly clashes that have claimed at least 12 lives and injured over 200 in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, across the Line of Control, Indian Kashmir’s progress has inadvertently fueled Pakistan’s desperation, manifesting in sustained terrorism aimed at derailing India’s momentum.

Economic Surge in Indian-Administered Kashmir vs. Pakistani-Administered Kashmir’s Aid Dependency

Indian Kashmir’s economy has rebounded robustly post-2019, with a surge in investments, industrial expansion, and tourism driving growth. Key infrastructure like the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel and expanding railway networks have enhanced connectivity, unlocking sectors such as horticulture, handicrafts, and eco-tourism. Government-backed low-interest loans have spurred local enterprises—from saffron farms along the Srinagar-Jammu highway to cricket bat factories in Pulwama, each supporting 70-100 families. The result? A shift in local investment from portable gold to sprawling countryside villas, signaling deep-rooted confidence in long-term stability.

In Pakistani-administered Kashmir, however, economic life remains tethered to Islamabad’s financial lifelines, with chronic unemployment and subsistence agriculture dominating. Lacking industrialization or major markets, the region faces stagnation, exacerbated by political volatility that deters private investment. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC)’s 38-point demands—slashing electricity tariffs, subsidizing wheat, and ending elite perks—underscore a populace weary of exploitation, where “Azad Kashmir” feels anything but free.

Infrastructure: Connectivity vs. Isolation

Indian Kashmir’s infrastructure renaissance has been nothing short of transformative, encompassing a wide array of projects designed to integrate the region more seamlessly with the rest of India. This includes the construction of new highways that cut travel times dramatically, extensive airport upgrades that have boosted air traffic and tourism inflows, and the iconic world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River—towering over 1,000 feet high—which not only facilitates seamless travel and commerce but also stands as a symbol of engineering prowess and commitment to development. Additionally, ongoing railway expansions connect remote valleys to urban centers, enabling faster movement of goods and people, while initiatives like the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel have revolutionized road transport by providing all-weather access through challenging mountainous terrain. The government’s ‘Back to Village’ program has played a crucial role in this progress, focusing on grassroots-level improvements such as electrifying remote villages, installing reliable water supply systems, and paving rural roads, all of which have supercharged local economies, particularly in rural tourism and agriculture by making these areas more accessible and livable.

In sharp contrast, Pakistani-administered Kashmir continues to suffer from severe infrastructural neglect, despite its strategic proximity to major urban centers like Islamabad, which could theoretically enable easier development. The region is plagued by dilapidated roads that become impassable during monsoons or harsh winters, inadequate public transport systems that leave residents reliant on outdated and overcrowded vehicles, and frequent power outages that disrupt daily life and economic activities. Essential services such as healthcare facilities and sanitation infrastructure are woefully underdeveloped, leading to widespread health issues and environmental concerns. Even basic connectivity remains a challenge, with many areas isolated due to the lack of investment in bridges, tunnels, or reliable telecommunications.

Recent protests have further highlighted these failings, as authorities resorted to imposing internet shutdowns and road blockades to suppress demonstrators marching toward Muzaffarabad, the administrative hub, which only intensified the sense of a region under perpetual siege rather than one being nurtured for growth. This isolation not only hampers immediate economic opportunities but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and dependency on external aid, underscoring the profound governance gaps in the area.

Education and Social Freedoms: Empowerment vs. Exodus

Literacy rates in Indian Kashmir have climbed to around 77%, a testament to the region’s robust educational framework that includes a well-established network of universities, colleges, and technical institutes. Prestigious establishments like the University of Kashmir and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar serve as pillars of higher learning, offering diverse programs in sciences, engineering, humanities, and more, attracting students from across India. The post-2019 era has seen uninterrupted schooling, free from the militant-enforced shutdowns that once plagued the system, allowing for consistent academic progress and empowering the youth with skills for modern careers. Government initiatives, such as the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme specifically tailored for Kashmiri students, have integrated locals into national education systems, providing financial aid and opportunities for advanced studies. This has particularly benefited young women and girls, who are now clinching national accolades in fields like karate and leading teams in traditional sports such as kho-kho during inter-university tournaments, fostering a culture of gender equality and personal achievement. Social freedoms have flourished alongside, with the revival of Sufi traditions, open religious processions for Shi’ites, and the safe return of Hindu and Sikh communities, creating a vibrant, inclusive society where cultural and religious expressions thrive without fear.

Pakistani-administered Kashmir, on the other hand, lags far behind with literacy rates estimated at around 50%, hampered by a severely under-resourced educational system that struggles to provide even basic access to quality learning. The region boasts fewer institutions of higher education and technical training, leading to limited options for advanced studies and skill development, which in turn fuels widespread disillusionment among the youth. Underfunded schools suffer from chronic issues like teacher absenteeism, outdated curricula, and insufficient infrastructure, such as lacking classrooms or basic supplies, exacerbating educational inequalities. This has resulted in a significant brain drain, as ambitious students are compelled to seek opportunities outside the region, often migrating to mainland Pakistan or abroad, depleting the local talent pool and hindering long-term development. Socially, the area remains overshadowed by extremism and political instability, which stifles freedoms and cultural expressions, contrasting sharply with the progressive environment across the border. The lack of supportive programs for women and minorities further compounds these challenges, leaving many segments of society marginalized and without avenues for empowerment or social mobility.

Pakistani-Administered Kashmir Protests: A Cry Against Neglect

The October 2025 uprising, just last month, in Pakistani-administered Kashmir has marked a pivotal moment of resistance, spreading from the capital Muzaffarabad to districts like Mirpur, Neelum, and beyond, initially ignited by economic grievances but rapidly escalating into broader demands for autonomy, accountability, and systemic reform. What began as demonstrations against soaring electricity bills, inflated food prices, and the high cost of living has transformed into a mass movement challenging the very notion of “Azad Kashmir,” with protesters arguing that the region is neither independent nor self-governing but instead subjected to decades of exploitation by Islamabad and the Pakistani military.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), at the forefront of the agitation, has presented a comprehensive 38-point charter that extends far beyond immediate relief, calling for slashed utility tariffs, subsidized wheat flour, free healthcare and education for all, and the abolition of reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan—viewed as outdated colonial remnants that dilute local representation. JKJAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir has been vocal in framing the struggle as a political awakening, accusing the government and army of systemic oppression and repression that has shackled the populace for generations.

Security forces’ response has been heavy-handed, with reports of Pakistani Rangers opening fire on peaceful crowds, leading to at least 12 civilian deaths and over 200 injuries, alongside the killing of three police personnel amid the chaos during a JKJAAC-called strike. Authorities have employed tactics like widespread internet blackouts, communication restrictions, and road closures to disrupt coordination among protesters and control the narrative, but these measures have only fueled further outrage. In acts of defiance, large march caravans have broken through blockades to converge on Muzaffarabad, while in Mirpur, the refusal to bury a slain protester until demands were addressed symbolized the deepening resolve.

This unrest underscores Islamabad’s failure to deliver on basic promises, eroding the myth of autonomy and highlighting chronic neglect in areas like healthcare, education, and fair political representation, potentially signaling a broader crisis of legitimacy for Pakistani control over the region.

Pakistan’s Terrorism: Desperation to Derail Indian Kashmir’s Rise

Indian-administered Kashmir’s ascent—marked by multiplexes reopening after 30 years of militant threats and women thriving in politics and sports—poses an existential embarrassment for Pakistan. As Indian Kashmir embodies peace and prosperity, Islamabad’s response has been to export terrorism, sponsoring groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba to sow chaos and halt progress. This desperation was starkly evident in the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, where Pakistan-backed militants from Lashkar e Taiba targeted innocent civilians in the picturesque tourist town, killing at least 25 people, and injuring dozens more in a brutal ambush near the Lidder River. The assault, traced directly to ISI handlers and terror camps across the Line of Control, was intended to exploit seasonal vulnerabilities and undermine Kashmir’s tourism revival, but instead, it provoked a swift and resolute Indian retaliation that escalated into the brief but intense “Four Days in May” war.

In the wake of the Pahalgam outrage, India launched precision airstrikes and ground incursions into Pakistani territory, targeting key terror infrastructure in a calibrated operation that avoided full-scale nuclear escalation. Indian forces—bolstered by advanced drone swarms, cyber warfare units, and special operations teams—systematically dismantled major terror outfits. Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters in Muridke was reduced to rubble, Jaish-e-Mohammed’s training camps in Bahawalpur were obliterated through bunker-busting munitions, and Hizbul Mujahideen’s command nodes in Muzaffarabad were neutralized in coordinated raids. The conflict, lasting from May 15 to May 18, 2025, saw India employ overwhelming air superiority and electronic warfare to disrupt Pakistani communications, leading to the capture or elimination of high-value targets like JeM chief Masood Azhar’s deputies and LeT operatives. Pakistan asked the United States to negotiate a ceasefire, but not before Pakistan’s proxy terror networks were decimated, with estimates suggesting over 80% of their operational capacity destroyed, including safe houses, funding channels, and recruitment pipelines.

The war’s aftermath further isolated Pakistan diplomatically, with global condemnations amplifying calls for Islamabad to dismantle remaining terror remnants. India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty followed as a strategic counter, leveraging water diplomacy to pressure Pakistan amid its internal chaos.

Former militants, now disillusioned and in Indian custody or rehabilitation programs, have admitted to being brainwashed about fabricated Hindu oppressions, only to discover thriving mosques, religious freedoms, and inclusive development in Indian-administered Kashmir upon their surrender or defection.

This longstanding pattern—from the 1990s cinema bombings that targeted cultural normalcy to the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack that claimed over 40 lives, and now the Pahalgam outrage culminating in the 2025 war—aims to replicate Pakistani-administered Kashmir’s dysfunction across the border, undermining India’s integration efforts like Special Economic Zones and youth entrepreneurship programs. Yet, with militancy quelled, terror outfits shattered, and life normalized in Indian Kashmir, such tactics have backfired, only spotlighting Pakistani-administered Kashmir’s underdevelopment and pushing Islamabad toward reluctant reforms under international scrutiny.

A Path Forward?

India’s Prime Minister’s Development Package continues to channel billions into Indian Kashmir’s infrastructure and jobs, promising sustained integration and empowerment—especially for women.

For Pakistani-administered Kashmir, the protests signal a tipping point: Will Pakistan embrace accountability, or entrench repression and terror? As Indian Kashmir thrives, the divide grows, underscoring governance’s power to uplift—or abandon—a people.

Pakistan’s chronic export of terrorism has now come full circle, plunging its own economy into peril as the fallout from the Pahalgam attack—perpetrated by Islamabad-backed militants—forces India to safeguard its sovereign water rights, leaving Pakistan’s 80% Indus-dependent agriculture exposed to devastating shortages, warns a new global report.

The Ecological Threat Report 2025, from the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), arrives mere months after India’s rightful abeyance of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in direct response to the April Pahalgam terror strike, which claimed innocent lives and underscored Pakistan’s unyielding pattern of state-sponsored violence.

Under the now-suspended IWT, India had generously ceded control of the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to Pakistan, reserving the eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej) for its own development. Yet, Pakistan’s repeated terror exports, including the Pahalgam outrage, have eroded any goodwill, compelling India to recalibrate its water management without the treaty’s constraints.

While India’s infrastructure—comprising run-of-the-river dams with minimal storage on western rivers—precludes outright flow cessation, the report starkly illustrates how even calibrated adjustments during peak vulnerability periods, such as summer, could cascade into crises for Pakistan’s over-reliant plains. With storage capacity limited to a mere 30 days of Indus flow, Islamabad’s infrastructural neglect amplifies the self-made peril, turning minor operational tweaks into potential agricultural Armageddon.

The IEP underscores that Pakistan’s densely populated heartlands, sustaining 80% of irrigated farming via the Indus Basin, now face acute seasonal threats—exacerbated not by Indian malice, but by the terror-fueled breakdown in bilateral trust.

In a pointed demonstration of India’s prudent resource stewardship post-suspension, May’s unnotified reservoir flushing at the Salal and Baglihar dams on the Chenab River cleared vital silt buildup, enhancing storage and hydropower without breaching humanitarian norms. Yet, for Pakistan—caught off-guard by its own provocations—this routine maintenance triggered temporary dry spells followed by sediment surges in Punjab, a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities sown by decades of exporting instability.

Earlier this week, compounding Pakistan’s woes, Afghanistan—emboldened by regional realignments—hastened plans for a Kunar River dam, further throttling cross-border flows into Pakistan. This development, mere weeks after deadly clashes between Kabul and Islamabad, lays bare the diplomatic isolation Pakistan courts through its terror patronage.

Pakistan’s farmers, already battered by self-inflicted climate mismanagement and erratic weather, now confront a hydra of floods and droughts—none more damning than the one engineered by their own export of violence.

PAKISTAN’S CHRONIC NEGLECT: WHY TERROR-INDUCED SUSPENSION EXPOSES FATAL FLAWS

Islamabad’s paltry dam infrastructure—insufficient to cushion even brief flow variances—renders it a sitting duck for disruptions it invited through terrorism.

The IEP report lays bare the peril: “For Pakistan, the danger is acute. If India were truly to cut off or significantly reduce Indus flows, Pakistan’s densely populated plains would face severe water shortages, especially in winter and dry seasons.” This vulnerability stems not from upstream malice, but from Pakistan’s failure to invest in resilience while prioritizing terror networks.

Pakistan’s water fate now hinges on the strategic restraint it squandered through terrorism. With scant storage and simmering isolation, even incremental flow shifts—born of justified Indian prudence—threaten to cripple its farms and food chains, a bitter harvest of its own sowing.

ISLAMABAD: In a concerning escalation of its recruitment tactics, the United Nations-designated terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has introduced an online training program targeted at women, charging a fee of 500 Pakistani Rupees (approximately 1.75 US dollars) per participant. This move, which leverages digital platforms to bypass conservative social restrictions in Pakistan, signals a potential shift toward involving women in active jihadist roles, raising alarms about broader radicalization efforts in the region.The course, named “Tufat al-Muminat,” is set to commence on November 8 and will feature daily 40-minute lectures conducted via online meeting tools. Instructors include family members of JeM’s founder, Masood Azhar—a globally wanted terrorist linked to attacks like the 2019 Pulwama bombing in India. Specifically, Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya Azhar and Samaira Azhar, will lead sessions focusing on women’s “duties” in the context of jihad, Islam, and religious ideology. Sadiya Azhar, who has been appointed to head JeM’s newly formed women’s wing, Jamat ul-Muminat (also known as Jamaat-ul-Mominaat), will play a central role. The group’s council, or Shura, also reportedly includes Safia Azhar and Afreera Farooq, the wife of Umar Farooq—a key perpetrator in the Pulwama attack who was later eliminated by Indian forces.Enrollment requires women to submit personal details through an online form and pay the mandatory donation, creating a fundraising mechanism. This initiative follows JeM’s announcement of its women’s brigade on October 8 and a mobilization event called “Dukhtaran-e-Islam” held on October 19 in Rawalakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, aimed at drawing more female supporters into the fold. By going digital, JeM appears to be exploiting societal norms that limit women’s mobility, allowing for discreet radicalization from home—a strategy that could accelerate the group’s expansion amid ongoing crackdowns.

This development comes as JeM seeks to rebuild after significant setbacks, including India’s Operation Sindoor airstrike in May, which targeted the group’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and resulted in the deaths of several Azhar family members, such as Sadiya Azhar’s husband, Yusuf Azhar. In response, Masood Azhar has intensified donation drives, including a public appeal last month at the Markaz Usman O Ali in Bahawalpur and an online campaign via EasyPaisa to raise millions of Pakistani Rupees for constructing 313 new centers across Pakistan. Analysts warn that these efforts underscore Pakistan’s inconsistent stance on counter-terrorism, despite its claims of adhering to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines to curb terror financing.

Experts view the inclusion of women as a tactical evolution for JeM, which has historically avoided deploying females in combat, unlike groups such as ISIS, Hamas, Boko Haram, or the LTTE. Reports suggest this could pave the way for training female suicide bombers or fedayeen attackers, with JeM and allied outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen relocating bases to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to evade further strikes.

On social media platforms like X, users have expressed alarm, describing the course as a “dangerous attempt to radicalize women under the guise of faith” and highlighting its implications for regional security.

As global scrutiny intensifies on Pakistan’s handling of banned terror groups, this online venture not only exposes vulnerabilities in digital oversight but also heightens fears of a new generation of extremists emerging from within households. Global authorities must monitor these activities closely, for enhanced international cooperation to disrupt such insidious recruitment pipelines.

A recent Foreign Policy report by Sumit Ganguly highlights a troubling shift in U.S.-Pakistan relations during President Donald Trump’s second term, raising serious concerns about America’s strategic priorities in South Asia. The warming of ties, which began in spring 2025 following a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that sparked a brief India-Pakistan conflict, could jeopardize the U.S.’s critical partnership with other countries in South Asia, especially India. Trump has claimed credit for brokering a cease-fire, a narrative Pakistani officials have eagerly supported with flattery and strategic offers, including access to rare earth minerals, cryptocurrency investments, and a port facility on the Arabian Sea. However, historical precedent suggests that Pakistan’s overtures are driven by self-interest, not genuine alliance, posing risks to U.S. interests.

Historically, U.S.-Pakistan relations have been marked by mistrust and transactionalism. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a defense pact with Pakistan, assuring India it was not targeted. Yet, Pakistan used U.S. weapons in the 1965 Kashmir war, undermining Eisenhower’s pledge and revealing its aim to counterbalance India over the Kashmir dispute. The 1971 East Pakistan crisis, which led to Bangladesh’s formation, further exposed this dynamic. President Richard Nixon supported Pakistan, deploying a carrier group to intimidate India, but Pakistan deemed U.S. aid insufficient after losing the war, souring ties. During the Soviet-Afghan War, President Ronald Reagan relied on Pakistan to arm mujahideen, but dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq described the relationship as a mere “handshake,” emphasizing its lack of depth. Similarly, in the post-9/11 era, Pakistan’s cooperation in the war on terror under Pervez Musharraf was inconsistent, with the country often criticized for its duplicity.

Recent developments underscore Pakistan’s calculated approach. In July 2025, Trump’s meeting with Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir, without elected officials, alarmed the world, as did the U.S. approval of advanced F-16 jets and missiles for Pakistan.

On the other hand, Trump’s offer to mediate the Kashmir dispute—despite India’s rejection of third-party involvement—have strained relations with New Delhi. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s praise of Pakistan as a counterterrorism partner and regional stabilizer has also raised eyebrows, given Pakistan’s questionable track record. Additional gestures, such as Pakistan’s offer to develop a $1.2 billion port in Pasni, near China’s Gwadar investments, and collaboration with Trump-backed cryptocurrency ventures, appear designed to exploit Trump’s personal inclinations rather than foster a durable partnership.

Pakistan’s alignment with China, America’s primary strategic rival, and its unreliable counterterrorism record suggest that the current thaw is unsustainable. The report warns that Trump’s pursuit of short-term gains with Pakistan risks undermining long-term U.S. interests in South Asia.

Pakistan’s economy faces mounting pressure as a growing number of multinational corporations announce their withdrawal from the country, citing unsustainable operating conditions. This corporate retreat coincides with critical negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion bailout program, underscoring the nation’s precarious fiscal position.

The latest departure is Procter & Gamble (P&G), which has ceased manufacturing operations at its facility and shifted to a third-party distribution model. This move follows a series of high-profile exits, including Shell’s complete operational shutdown, Microsoft’s scaling back, and Uber’s discontinuation of services in major cities like Karachi and Lahore. Other firms, such as Eli Lilly, Yamaha Motors, Telenor, and Eni, have also curtailed or ended their presence, alongside pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and several foreign banks. Gillette Pakistan, a P&G subsidiary, reported revenues nearly halving to 1.5 billion rupees in the fiscal year ending June 2025, down from a peak of three billion rupees two years prior.

Analysts attribute these exits to a confluence of structural issues plaguing Pakistan’s business environment. The Pakistani rupee’s depreciation has inflated import costs and eroded profit margins, while inconsistent taxation policies and regulatory complexities have deterred long-term investments. Political instability and security concerns further compound the challenges, creating an atmosphere of unpredictability that global firms can ill afford. Foreign direct investment has plummeted, exacerbating unemployment and straining local supply chains. The loss of these companies threatens thousands of jobs and could inflate prices for consumer goods, from personal care products to pharmaceuticals, hitting low-income households hardest.

As these developments unfold, Pakistan is engaged in tense talks with the IMF over the second review of its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), approved in September 2024. Negotiations, which began earlier this month, focus on revenue mobilization, fiscal sustainability, and structural reforms. The IMF has expressed flexibility on certain concessions, particularly in light of recent flood-related losses, but has raised concerns over discrepancies in Pakistan’s external debt data totaling $11 billion for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. These inconsistencies have prompted demands for greater transparency to ensure the program’s credibility.

Despite some slippages in reform implementation, Islamabad anticipates securing a new tranche by early November, pending IMF Executive Board approval. The government plans to brief the IMF on a new tariff policy framework aimed at bolstering energy sector viability. However, critics argue that without addressing root causes like currency volatility and bureaucratic inefficiencies, such infusions may provide only temporary relief.

The interplay between corporate flight and IMF dependency highlights Pakistan’s deepening economic vulnerabilities. With GDP growth projected at a modest 2.5% for 2025 and inflation lingering above 10%, the stakes could not be higher. Successful negotiations could stabilize reserves and restore some investor confidence, but failure risks further isolation.

For Pakistan, balancing immediate fiscal needs with long-term structural changes remains the core challenge. The international community, including bilateral lenders, watches closely, aware that sustained support hinges on demonstrable progress.

Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-Administered Kashmir

In a dramatic escalation of long-simmering grievances, thousands of residents in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, also known as Azad Kashmir or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, took to the streets today in what organizers described as an “indefinite shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike. The protests, spearheaded by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), demand urgent relief from skyrocketing inflation, reduced electricity tariffs, and the withdrawal of recent wheat subsidy cuts—part of a broader 38-point charter addressing economic hardships and local autonomy. What began as peaceful demonstrations against the Pakistani government’s policies has now spiraled into violence, with reports confirming that security forces opened fire on crowds, resulting in at least two deaths and over 20 injuries.

Morning Clashes: Security Forces Resort to Live Ammunition

Eyewitness accounts and social media footage from Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital, paint a harrowing picture of the day’s events. Protesters gathered near key government buildings to press their demands. However, tensions boiled over when paramilitary units and police, reinforced by contingents from Punjab province, moved to disperse the crowds.

By mid-morning, unverified videos circulating online showed security personnel firing straight into the throng of demonstrators, with civilians scrambling for cover amid bursts of gunfire. One clip captured a young protester collapsing after being struck, while others displayed spent bullet casings as evidence of the forces’ use of live rounds. Local reports indicate that at least two individuals succumbed to gunshot wounds, with 22 others hospitalized, some in critical condition.

“The forces are shooting directly at us—it’s a massacre,” one anonymous protester told reporters via smuggled messages, echoing sentiments in viral posts from the region. Another video showed injured youth being rushed to a local hospital on makeshift stretchers, their clothes bloodied from what appeared to be bullet impacts.

Internet Blackout and Media Clampdown

Complicating the flow of information, Pakistani authorities imposed a near-total internet shutdown across Azad Kashmir early Monday, severing mobile data and landline services in a bid to curb the spread of protest footage. Journalists attempting to cover the unrest faced arrests and abductions, with multiple reporters detained in broad daylight, according to activist accounts. An unofficial curfew has been enforced in hotspots like Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, where clashes reportedly intensified, including allegations of protesters capturing and disarming soldiers.

The All Parties National Alliance (APNA), a coalition of local political groups, condemned the crackdown as “state terrorism,” urging international observers to intervene. “This is not about flour prices anymore; it’s about our right to live free from oppression,” said a JAAC spokesperson in a pre-shutdown statement.

Broader Context: A Region on the Brink

The unrest traces back to July 2025, when a 60% hike in wheat flour prices—amid Pakistan’s worst economic crisis in decades—ignited public fury. Protests have since snowballed, drawing parallels to the 2023 uprisings in Gilgit-Baltistan over similar grievances. Demonstrators accuse Islamabad of exploiting the resource-poor territory while neglecting basic needs like subsidized power and land rights.

Security has been ramped up since the weekend, with entry points to major towns sealed and additional troops deployed. Reports also surfaced of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed Muslim Conference joining forces with police to quell the crowds, further fueling accusations of a coordinated suppression.

As night falls, the strike shows no signs of abating. Protesters vow to continue until their demands are met, while the Pakistani government has yet to issue an official statement on the fatalities. Human rights groups have called for an independent probe into the use of force.

This developing story underscores the fragility of stability in the disputed Himalayan region, where economic despair intersects with deep-seated political tensions. Updates will follow as information emerges despite the communication blackout.

As President Trump prepares to host Pakistan’s Army Chief and Prime Minister amid simmering regional tensions—fresh off the heels of the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis that saw missile strikes and airstrikes escalate into a four-day nuclear brinkmanship—the stakes couldn’t be higher.

With Pakistan’s economy teetering on the edge due to rampant corruption and mismanagement, as highlighted by its dismal ranking in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, the US has a golden opportunity to demand accountability.

Trump, known for his no-nonsense diplomacy, should channel that energy into pressing on Pakistan’s chronic issues: human rights atrocities, creeping Chinese dominance, jihadist patronage, speech suppression, and betrayals of American allies.

Here are seven pointed questions that South Asia Press raises which cut to the core—ones that could force real change or expose empty promises.

1. What Immediate Steps Will Pakistan Take to End Enforced Disappearances, a Practice That Has Claimed Thousands of Lives?

Enforced disappearances remain a stain on Pakistan’s human rights record, with Amnesty International documenting 2,332 cases in recent years, often linked to state agencies targeting activists and dissidents in Balochistan. UN experts in April 2025 decried the “unrelenting use” of this tactic as a serious violation, urging swift investigations. Human Rights Watch’s 2025 report further details law enforcement’s role in arbitrary detentions without charge. The US, a major aid provider, must demand a timeline for releasing the disappeared and prosecuting perpetrators—anything less perpetuates impunity.

2. How Will Pakistan Prevent Civilian Casualties in Military Operations, Like the Recent Airstrikes That Killed 30 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

Pakistan’s military has a history of operations in civilian-heavy areas causing devastating losses, exemplified by this month’s airstrikes using Chinese J-17 jets that killed 30 civilians while they were sleeping in their homes. Trump should probe for adherence to international humanitarian law, including independent oversight of operations, to avoid turning counterterrorism into a pretext for collateral damage.

3. With CPEC Debt Topping $9.5 Billion, What Safeguards Is Pakistan Implementing Against China’s Debt-Trap Diplomacy?

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has ballooned into a $9.5 billion albatross, with $7.5 billion owed for power plants alone, trapping Pakistan in a cycle of repayments that critics label outright debt-trap tactics. A January 2025 analysis warned of geopolitical strings attached, as Chinese loans exacerbate fiscal woes without yielding promised growth. As a counterweight to Beijing’s influence, the US needs assurances on debt restructuring and diversified partnerships—lest Pakistan become a Sino pawn in South Asia.

4. What Concrete Actions Is the Pakistan Army Taking to Sever Ties with Anti-India Jihadist Groups Like Lashkar-e-Taiba?

Despite denials, evidence mounts of the Pakistan Army’s complicity in nurturing anti-India militants, with a June 2025 MEMRI report exposing links to the United Jihad Council network. The International Crisis Group urged in September 2025 that Islamabad dismantle these support structures to avert war, especially post the Pahalgam attack that sparked the year’s crisis. Trump, a staunch India ally, must extract commitments on asset freezes and prosecutions—ending the double game that fuels regional instability.

5. How Is Pakistan Cracking Down on Hawala Networks Used by Jihadis for Financial Terrorism?

Jihadi outfits in Pakistan rely heavily on informal hawala systems to launder funds for attacks, with a May 2025 media analysis revealing a “complex web” of terror financing sustaining militant groups in Pakistan. NACTA’s own reports admit billions flow unchecked to terrorists, undermining global efforts like Executive Order 13224. The US should demand enhanced FIU monitoring and international cooperation to choke these lifelines, turning words on counterterrorism into deeds.

6. Will Pakistan Finally Reform Its Blasphemy Laws, Which Fuel Violence and Stifle Free Speech?

Blasphemy statutes, hardened under Zia-ul-Haq, are routinely weaponized for extortion and mob justice, with Human Rights Watch reporting in June 2025 their exploitation against minorities for land grabs and profit. A July 2025 UN statement slammed the “widespread impunity” enabling discrimination, calling for outright repeal. As free expression plummets—Pakistan ranks 125th globally in press freedoms—Trump must push for amendments protecting speech without fear of fatwas.

7. Why Is Dr. Shakil Afridi Still Rotting in Solitary Confinement After 14 Years, and When Will He Be Freed?

Dr. Shakil Afridi, the physician who risked everything to help the CIA pinpoint Osama bin Laden in 2011, has endured nearly 14 years in harsh isolation by March 2025, per a State Department report. His son’s plea underscores the betrayal of an American hero, sentenced on trumped-up treason charges. This isn’t just ingratitude—it’s a direct affront to US intelligence partnerships. Trump should make his release non-negotiable.

In a Trump-era reset, these questions aren’t optional niceties; they’re leverage points for a Pakistan that aligns with US interests or faces isolation. With economic rot—fueled by military meddling and graft—pushing the country toward collapse, as February 2025 scandals showed with mass suspensions for embezzlement, the ball’s in Islamabad’s court. Will they dodge, or deliver? The world—and especially the US—watches closely.

In the pitch-black hours of September 22, 2025, terror descended from the skies over Pakistan’s Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani Air Force JF-17 fighter jets, loaded with deadly Chinese-made LS-6 precision-guided bombs, obliterated five civilian homes in Matre Dara village, burying at least 30 innocents—mostly defenseless women and children—under tons of rubble and flames.

Eyewitnesses recount blood-curdling screams piercing the night as families were ripped apart in a barrage of explosions around 2 AM. Bodies mangled beyond recognition were dragged from the debris by desperate survivors using their bare hands, painting a gruesome picture of state-sponsored carnage in a region already ravaged by endless conflict.

This isn’t mere tragedy—it’s a horrifying massacre that exposes the Pakistani military’s brutal disregard for human life, igniting fears of an all-out ethnic rebellion. Local leaders and opposition figures are screaming foul play, accusing the security forces of a premeditated airstrike under the guise of targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.

PTI MNA Junaid Akbar blasted the attack on X, declaring that “bombs fell on the local population,” martyring children and women in a Pashtun-majority area where “seeds of hatred” are now sprouting into potential chaos.

Iqbal Afridi, another PTI voice, shared a video confirming the “jet bombardment” by security forces, while protesters wave placards decrying “Pashtun blood has no value in Pakistan.”

Yet, the government and ISPR hide behind a wall of silence, with shadowy military-linked accounts peddling a sinister lie: the blasts stemmed from a TTP explosives cache detonating inside civilian homes.

This blatant cover-up reeks of a historical pattern—rare admissions of civilian casualties in anti-militant ops — leaving the world to wonder how many more atrocities go unpunished.

The fallout is explosive and escalating by the hour. On September 24, tensions boiled over in Khyber District as thousands stormed the streets in a massive sit-in, blocking roads and marching with coffins toward Peshawar’s Corps Commander House.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded for an impartial investigation into these alleged war crimes, warning that unchecked killings erode trust and fan the flames of unrest in volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This blood-soaked debacle isn’t isolated—it’s a ticking bomb in Pakistan’s fractured northwest, where TTP resurgence since the 2021 Afghan Taliban takeover has blurred lines between counter-terrorism and civilian genocide.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s paltry compensation of 10 million rupees per victim does nothing to staunch the bleeding wounds of a betrayed populace.

As protests swell and ethnic Pashtun fury mounts, the risk of widespread violence looms like a gathering storm. How long before this sparks a full-scale uprising, destabilizing the entire region and drawing in global powers? Islamabad’s deafening silence isn’t just cowardly—it’s deadly.

Geneva, Switzerland – September 15, 2025

The 7th International Baloch Conference has issued a solemn and urgent call to action from Geneva, exposing a dire human rights crisis in Balochistan that threatens catastrophic consequences for South Asia.

Convened under the theme “The Struggle for Balochistan: Rights, Resistance, and Regional Significance,” this critical gathering brought together political leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of the Baloch diaspora to confront a rapidly deteriorating situation. Organized by the Baloch National Movement, the conference presented harrowing survivor testimonies, expert legal analyses, and a unified demand for immediate international intervention to halt decades of relentless oppression.

A FIGHT AGAINST SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE

The Baloch struggle is not against the people of Pakistan but against entrenched structures of occupation and systemic injustice that deny the fundamental right to self-determination. “We don’t ask for sympathy. We ask for solidarity, recognition, rights and freedom for the people in Balochistan to live in peace and harmony,” one speaker declared, encapsulating the conference’s urgent plea for global support.

ALARMING EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES

The scale of violations is staggering and demands immediate attention. According to the Human Rights Council of Balochistan, in 2024 alone, over 800 individuals were forcibly disappeared, and nearly 500 were killed in extrajudicial operations. Independent monitors reported that in May 2025, over 100 people vanished, and at least 27 extrajudicial killings occurred in a single month. Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about pervasive surveillance and censorship, while United Nations experts have condemned the disproportionate impact of counter-terrorism measures on civilians, signaling a grave breach of international norms.

SYSTEMATIC REPRESSION THREATENS LIVES

The conference revealed a chilling pattern of state-sponsored oppression, silencing dissent and dismantling civic space. Hatin Baloch, a human rights activist and coordinator of the PAANK information center, presented devastating accounts of torture, enforced disappearances, and intimidation of families seeking justice. The region remains under a near-total media blackout, with journalists and lawyers facing constant threats to their lives.

A REGIONAL AND GLOBAL THREAT

Rauf Laghari, a leader in the Indian National Congress and representative of the World Sindhi Congress, framed the Baloch crisis as part of a broader justice emergency across South Asia. He warned that the systematic denial of rights constitutes both a humanitarian tragedy and a direct threat to international stability. “Your struggle is our struggle, your pain is my pain, and your freedom is our freedom,” he affirmed, urging resolute solidarity and accountability to avert further escalation.

PAKISTAN’S FAILING SYSTEM

Mohsin Dawar, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly, condemned the structural deficiencies in Pakistan’s political system, which fails to protect the fundamental rights of Baloch, Pashtun, and Hindu communities. He reported that hundreds of political activists have disappeared in recent months and emphasized that cross-community alliances are the only viable path to compel meaningful reform.

A MILITARY-DRIVEN CRISIS

Dr. Mohammad Taqi, a journalist and political analyst, described Pakistan’s state as dominated by military power, with civilian governance rendered ineffective. He highlighted that Pakistan and Iran exploit Balochistan’s resources while disregarding its people’s aspirations. He warned of an impending systemic collapse if this model persists, urging Baloch, Pashtun, and Sindhi leaders to unite around a shared agenda at this pivotal moment.

A HISTORY OF OPPRESSION

Naseem Baloch, a torture survivor and chairperson of the Baloch National Movement in exile, recounted Balochistan’s lost autonomy following its occupation in 1948. He detailed successive waves of military repression in 1948, 1962, 1973, and the 2000s, each marked by arrests, displacement, and escalating human rights abuses. International organizations have documented mass graves, disappearances, and torture, yet the crisis persists. He issued a critical call for the United Nations to deploy an investigative mission to Balochistan, a demand echoed by international legal experts.

GLOBAL INACTION ENABLES IMPUNITY

Reed Brody of the International Commission of Jurists drew sobering parallels with other regions plagued by regimes of terror, warning that silence from the international community perpetuates impunity. He pressed for rigorous scrutiny and accountability for those responsible for crimes against civilians.

BRITAIN’S HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY

Labour MP John McDonnell, addressing the conference online, underscored the United Kingdom’s obligation to the Baloch people due to its historical role in the region. He urged the UK government to confront the ongoing abuses in Balochistan and stressed that UK aid to Pakistan must be contingent on respect for fundamental rights. “He concluded with a commitment that he and his colleagues in Parliament will continue pressing for recognition of the Baloch people’s right to self-determination.”

The conference concluded with a resolute consensus that the right to self-determination, enshrined in the United Nations Charter, must be upheld without delay. The moral imperative to act extends beyond justice for the Baloch people to securing lasting peace and stability in South Asia. The international community must respond immediately to prevent further atrocities and avert a regional crisis of catastrophic proportions.

In a deeply disturbing turn of events, an international organization responsible for overseeing elections and democratic standards has shockingly buried a scathing report on Pakistan’s February 2024 elections, according to investigative news website Dropsitenews.com. A whistleblower, frustrated by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s failure to release the report despite promises made over a year ago, leaked it to the site. The source aimed to expose the organization’s complicity in concealing evidence of electoral fraud in Pakistan’s February 2024 elections, hoping to prompt reflection on its commitment to democracy.

WHAT THE COMMONWEALTH REPORT MENTIONS

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s report criticizes Pakistan’s 2024 elections for violations of fundamental political rights, including freedom of association, assembly, and expression. Government and judicial actions systematically limited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s ability to contest fairly, through measures like banning the party, forcing candidates to run as independents, and prohibiting their electoral symbols. PTI candidates faced violence and threats. On election day, cellular service shutdowns reduced transparency in result transmission, and discrepancies between polling station and tabulated results may have led to unlawful declarations of winners. PTI members and supporters endured arrests, detentions, disappearances, and raids on offices and homes. Internet disruptions coincided with PTI’s online campaigns and fundraisers. While noting increased youth and female voter turnout, the report questions the election’s credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness. It urges a clearer separation between military and civilian authority and new rules to safeguard democratic institutions.

DID THE PAKISTANI STATE INFLUENCE INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS?

The Commonwealth Secretariat informally shared the report with the Pakistani government, which requested its suppression, reports Dropsitenews.com.

The Secretary-General complied, marking the first time in the Commonwealth’s 70-year history that an elections observer report was not published. The release was delayed until after the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Similarly, the European Union’s Election Expert Mission report on the 2024 elections remains unpublished, a historic first alongside the Commonwealth’s suppression. The European External Action Service (EEAS) blocked freedom of information requests, arguing that disclosure would harm international relations with Pakistan, even partial access risking negative perceptions.

WESTERN COMPLICITY IN OPPRESSING PAKISTANI CITIZENS?

The complicity of the Commonwealth and EU election observers in suppressing these reports signals that Pakistan’s military-backed regime can act with impunity, oppressing millions of citizens and illegally jailing former Prime Minister Imran Khan for over two years without facing international accountability. By burying evidence of electoral fraud and human rights abuses, these organizations enable the regime’s authoritarian grip, undermining democracy and emboldening further violations against the common people of Pakistan.