India on Tuesday called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its “misdeeds and abuses” in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK), citing reports of severe police brutality in which several protesters were killed and many others injured amid escalating unrest in the region.
Addressing a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had been witnessing a pattern of misinformation emanating from Pakistan aimed at diverting attention from its internal failures and alleged human rights violations.
“We continue to see in this context a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses,” Jaiswal said.
“There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in which several protestors have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses,” he added.
India’s remarks came amid mounting tensions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following violent clashes between security forces and protesters associated with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group that has spearheaded campaigns for economic relief and political reforms in the region.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation, saying it was “deeply concerned by the escalating confrontation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the loss of life among both protesters and law enforcement personnel”.
The rights body called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and an impartial investigation into all deaths and injuries. It warned that banning popular movements could shrink democratic space and said demands for constitutional change should be addressed through peaceful and representative means.
According to reports, more than 20 people were feared killed in police action and clashes across several parts of PoJK, although official accounts in Pakistan have put the death toll lower and said law enforcement personnel were also among those killed.
The unrest intensified after the PoK government last week outlawed the JAAC, accusing it of promoting hatred, terrorism and anarchy in the region. The ban came ahead of a protest call issued by the organisation for June 9.
In a fresh move on Tuesday, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government announced a reward of Rs 10 million for information leading to the arrest of four wanted individuals linked to the proscribed group.
“The president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been pleased to fix Rs 10 million reward money to be granted to any person who provides information leading to the successful arrest of the accused, an official notification said.
The JAAC has emerged as one of the most prominent protest movements in the region, having organised demonstrations over electricity tariffs, inflation and political rights. Previous confrontations with authorities in May 2024 and September 2025 had also resulted in deaths and injuries.
The latest violence has once again brought the spotlight on the political and human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with New Delhi using the developments to sharpen its criticism of Islamabad and press for international scrutiny of its actions.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the newspaper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
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