The decision represents a dramatic escalation in a movement that was not originally born out of separatist demands or ideological conflict, but economic frustration. At the heart of the protests lies a question many residents have repeatedly asked: why do people living in a region rich in hydropower resources continue to face high electricity costs while electricity tariffs in several other parts of Pakistan remain comparatively lower?
PoK contributes significantly to Pakistan's hydroelectric capacity through projects built around its rivers and mountainous terrain. Protesters argue that the people of the region have not proportionately benefited from the resources generated from their own land. Rising electricity bills, inflation and broader concerns regarding governance have contributed to a growing sense of resentment.
Why Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Is Witnessing Growing Unrest?
Recent developments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have renewed attention on the region's economic grievances, political mobilisation, and the growing disconnect between public demands and official responses.
By Abhinav Mudaliar
Chief Analyst, The Centre
15 June 2026 • 11:45 AM IST • 6 min read
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has once again found itself at the centre of political turmoil, with authorities declaring the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), one of the leading organisations behind recent protests, a terrorist organisation under anti-terror legislation.
The Joint Awami Action Committee emerged as one of the principal platforms through which these grievances were articulated.
However, the movement has now entered a more confrontational phase.
Authorities in PoK have accused the organisation of undermining public order and have designated it under anti-terror provisions. The organisation and its supporters reject the allegations, maintaining that their demands relate to economic justice, accountability and the protection of local interests.
The subsequent crackdown has attracted increasing scrutiny.
International media reports have documented deadly clashes between protesters and security personnel. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concern over allegations of arbitrary arrests, restrictions on communication and the excessive use of force against civilians.
At the same time, the precise extent of alleged abuses remains difficult to independently verify in an environment marked by competing narratives and limited access. Yet, beyond the immediate headlines, the events unfolding in PoK reveal a deeper reality.
History demonstrates that prolonged political instability often emerges when communities believe they are excluded from the benefits generated by their own resources. Economic grievances, when left unaddressed, can evolve into broader questions of representation, legitimacy and identity. The current unrest appears to reflect precisely this transition. Pakistan now faces a difficult choice.
It can continue to view the situation primarily through a security lens, relying on restrictions and coercive measures to restore order. Alternatively, it can engage with the underlying economic and political concerns that have fuelled public discontent in the first place. No state can function without maintaining law and order.
Equally, durable stability rarely emerges solely from the exercise of state power. The people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir deserve transparency regarding the allegations of human rights violations that have surfaced in recent weeks. Claims of atrocities and excessive force should neither be dismissed outright nor accepted unquestioningly. They require credible investigation and accountability.
Whether the present crisis subsides or deepens will depend not only on the decisions taken by the authorities, but also on whether the underlying grievances of ordinary people continue to be ignored. The story of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir today is not merely one of protests and crackdowns.
