A territory-wide shutdown has brought daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to a standstill following the deadliest unrest in years, which has left at least 24 people dead over nearly two weeks of protests.
The crisis has disrupted businesses, transport and communications across the region, with streets largely deserted and economic activity grinding to a halt.
The unrest was sparked by opposition to plans to reserve 12 seats for refugees in the upcoming legislative assembly elections scheduled for 27 July.
The measure has drawn strong resistance from supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group recently banned by authorities. Demonstrations intensified ahead of a strike called by the group on 9 June.
Government officials said at least 20 civilians were killed between 6 and 14 June, with dozens more injured during clashes between protesters and security forces.
Police chief Liaqat Ali Malik said four officers had also been killed and 97 wounded, while more than 500 people have been detained.
Authorities have responded to the unrest with sweeping restrictions, including shutting down major roads, suspending internet services and limiting media access across much of the region.
Thousands of JAAC supporters remain gathered on the outskirts of Rawalakot, about 100 kilometres south of the regional capital Muzaffarabad, as tensions persist.
The crackdown reflects the scale of the challenge facing Islamabad, which is now confronting public anger in territory under its own administration.
The shutdown has had a devastating impact on livelihoods, particularly for daily wage earners.
In Muzaffarabad’s Upper Adda district, usually a bustling commercial hub, shops remain largely closed and workers wait for jobs that have not materialised.
“Since June 9, I have not earned a single rupee,” said 27-year-old labourer Ikhlaq Ahmed.
While some essential services, such as medical stores and small food vendors, have started opening for limited hours, most businesses remain shut.
Banks have reported disruptions due to the suspension of internet and satellite services, leaving ATMs and routine transactions unavailable. Petrol stations have also been closed under official orders.
For many residents, the prolonged disruption is becoming increasingly difficult to endure.
Motorcycle taxi driver Asif Naz described the situation as unsustainable for low-income workers.
“Those with resources may sustain it,” he said, “but for blue-collar workers like us, it is self-slaughter.”
The unrest presents a sensitive situation for Pakistan’s government, which has often criticised India over its handling of protests in Indian-administered Kashmir, but is now facing unrest within its own territory.
As tensions continue, the government faces mounting pressure to restore order while addressing the grievances behind the protests.
For now, with roads blocked, communications limited and economic activity stalled, the region remains in a state of paralysis, with no immediate end in sight.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in W...
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq, saying they were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, as Washington sai...
Ukraine's new defence minister Yevhenii Khmara has said Ukraine cannot match Russia 'punch for punch' while outlining new strategies as Ukraine contin...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
The 27 July edition of Daybreak covers a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the latest developments in Russia's war against Ukraine, and mass evacuations as wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain.
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 22 trade agreements worth more than $200 million during a business forum in Kabul on Sunday, as officials from both countries pledged to deepen economic cooperation and expand trade and investment.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
President Donald Trump has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, saying U.S. arms sales are decided by Washington alone. He also praised Türkiye as "a tremendous ally" and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as "a friend".
Pakistani businesses are warning that growing difficulties in obtaining United Arab Emirates (UAE) visas are disrupting trade, delaying investment and limiting access to a key export market, despite both Islamabad and Abu Dhabi saying there is no official visa ban.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve a dispute over trade restrictions imposed by Moscow, Yerevan's government said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment