Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked fresh controversy after defending the killing of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), describing them as “enemies like India.” His remarks followed a deadly security crackdown on a protest march organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), in which at least 14 civilians were reportedly killed.
The comments have intensified criticism of Pakistan’s handling of unrest in POK, where demonstrations over political representation, economic hardship and governance have continued for weeks. While protest organisers accuse Pakistani forces of opening fire on peaceful civilians, Islamabad insists security personnel responded only after coming under attack.
Pakistan Protest Turns Deadly After Security Crackdown
The latest violence unfolded when thousands of JAAC supporters marched from Rawalkot towards Muzaffarabad, demanding the removal of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees.
The organisation argues that these reserved seats reduce the political influence of residents living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and allow Islamabad-backed parties to shape governments in the region. Protest leaders insist that only permanent residents of POK should have the right to elect their legislative representatives.
According to JAAC, around 5,000 people joined what they described as a peaceful march before security forces allegedly opened fire without warning. The group claimed at least 14 activists were killed and more than two dozen others injured.
Among those who lost their lives was Usman Nazir, the younger brother of JAAC founding member Umar Nazir. The organisation accused Pakistani security personnel of carrying out an unprovoked attack on unarmed protesters.
Pakistani authorities rejected the allegations, claiming demonstrators were carrying sophisticated weapons and attacked security personnel first, prompting the response. Independent verification of the competing claims has not yet been possible.
Khawaja Asif Refuses Dialogue With Demonstrators
Speaking to a Pakistani television channel after the incident, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the government’s actions and made it clear that he saw no distinction between anti-government protesters and India’s perceived adversaries.
“I put the protesters in the same category as India and consider them also as enemies like India,” Asif said during the interview.
He further ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the demonstrators, describing them as “enemies of Pakistan.”
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism, particularly because they came immediately after one of the deadliest crackdowns in the region in recent years.
Asif has frequently courted controversy through his public statements, especially during periods of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, and his latest comments have once again placed him at the centre of political debate.
Long-Standing Grievances Continue to Fuel Unrest
The protests across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are not limited to the issue of reserved legislative seats.
Residents have been protesting for months over soaring inflation, rising prices of essential commodities, prolonged electricity shortages and what they describe as administrative neglect by Islamabad.
The movement has gradually evolved into a broader campaign demanding greater political rights, improved governance and increased accountability from Pakistani authorities.
According to multiple reports, more than 80 people have reportedly died since demonstrations began in early June, including protesters and members of the security forces.
The latest firing has further heightened public anger, with many local organisations accusing Islamabad of suppressing dissent through force rather than addressing the underlying issues.
India Rejects Pakistan’s Electoral Exercise
The deadly crackdown coincided with Pakistan conducting the first phase of elections for the so-called legislative assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Reports from the region indicated clashes at polling stations, allegations of electoral manipulation and incidents involving looted ballot boxes despite heavy deployment of security personnel.
Reacting to the developments, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the election exercise as an attempt to legitimise Pakistan’s control over territory that India considers illegally occupied.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the polls as a “cosmetic exercise” intended to conceal Pakistan’s alleged human rights violations in the region.
Reiterating India’s long-standing position, he stated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas currently under Pakistan’s control, remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
Jaiswal also argued that the continuing protests reflected widespread dissatisfaction among local residents over economic exploitation, denial of democratic rights and administrative oppression.
As protests continue across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Khawaja Asif’s remarks are expected to deepen political tensions further. With conflicting narratives surrounding the deadly firing, growing criticism from activists and renewed international attention on the region, the unrest in POK remains far from over.
