Thousands join protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as clashes kill 15

At least 15 people, including 11 civilians and four security personnel, have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to local authorities, as tensions escalate over contested electoral arrangements and a banned activist movement continues to mobilise thousands.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of activist groups, has called for a march towards the regional capital Muzaffarabad to oppose the reservation of 12 legislative seats for refugees in upcoming elections, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Authorities have accused the group of sedition, banning it under anti-terrorism laws and ordering action against its leadership, but the move has failed to halt large-scale demonstrations.

Officials estimate that more than 10,000 protesters were travelling in a convoy, positioned around four kilometres outside Rawalkot. Security forces have been deployed across key districts, with authorities warning that the convoy would not be allowed to proceed towards Muzaffarabad. Residents in several areas have been instructed to remain indoors, while local mosques have broadcast announcements reinforcing the order.

BBC Urdu reported that helicopters have been conducting surveillance flights over Muzaffarabad and Rawalkot as the situation remains tense. A district official in Poonch said security personnel were maintaining patrols to ensure order, adding that authorities were prepared to enforce restrictions if necessary. He said that rule of law "would be ensured".

Clashes first intensified earlier this week in Rawalakot, with additional fatalities reported in Kotli, where at least three people were killed on Tuesday, according to officials. More than 50 people have been injured, and authorities say the death toll could rise as unrest continues across multiple districts.

Amnesty International has criticised the response, describing it as a "violent and sweeping crackdown" on protests, which includes "an internet shutdown, mass arbitrary arrests, and deadly use of force", saying it "continues an alarming deterioration of human rights in the region".

Despite the violence, JAAC has called for a general strike, with Muzaffarabad experiencing an “uneasy silence”, as streets remain largely empty and businesses shuttered. Some residents told BBC Urdu they closed shops independently due to security concerns, while others said they would continue striking until demands were met.

The dispute centres on reserved seats allocated to Kashmiri refugees who do not reside in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a provision critics say excludes local residents from contesting key positions. The JAAC argues all legislative seats should be reserved for people living in the territory.

The group was banned on 5 June, with authorities stating it "engaged in terrorism" and acted "in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the State", according to local reports. The Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has upheld the constitutional status of the reserved seats, ruling they cannot be altered through administrative or political pressure.

Pakistan-administered Kashmir remains a semi-autonomous region within the broader Kashmir dispute, which has fuelled tensions between India and Pakistan for more than seven decades.

By Aghakazim Guliyev