Region-Wide Lockdown and Protests Grip Azad Jammu and Kashmir as Demonstrations Spread Globally. “This is about our survival, our dignity, and our right to a better life.” “We are standing with our brothers and sisters in AJK. Their fight is our fight.” #AJKProtests

Kotli Protest

Muzaffarabad (AJK), Sep 30, 2025 — A sweeping lockdown and a "shutter-down and wheel-jam" strike have paralyzed towns and cities across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as of late September 2025, with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) leading a renewed wave of protests. The demonstrations, which echo widespread unrest that shook the region in May 2024, are driven by long-standing demands for economic relief, affordable electricity, and greater political autonomy. The AAC has vowed to continue the protests until their demands are met, signaling a deepening crisis in the region.

The strike has brought daily life to a standstill, with businesses shuttered, roads blocked, and public transport halted across AJK. All major and local urban centers sucha as Muzaffarabad, Bag, Dhirkot, Rawalakot, Thorar Khaigala, TrarKhel, Haveli, Hajeera, Pallandri, Sehnsa Sarsawa, Mirpur, Chakswari, Bhimber, Dhodial and Kotli are witnessing large-scale demonstrations, with thousands of thousands of residents taking to the streets. Protesters have set up barricades, burned tires, and organized sit-ins, disrupting traffic and commerce in a show of collective frustration. Local authorities backed by Punjab Police, Frontier Constabulary (FC) a para military force of Pakistan and Islamabad Police have deployed not to maintain order or to protect protestors but to terrorize them raising concerns about potential clashes as tensions escalate. 

The protests in AJK are part of a broader movement that has resonated beyond the region’s borders. In Pakistan’s major cities—Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad—members of the Kashmiri diaspora and solidarity groups have organized parallel demonstrations to amplify the AAC’s demands. In Karachi, protesters gathered outside the Press Club, chanting slogans and holding banners calling for justice and economic reforms for AJK. In Lahore, a rally near the Punjab Assembly drew hundreds, while in Islamabad, demonstrators marched toward government offices, urging federal authorities to address the grievances of AJK residents.

Protest in Trar Khel on 29 Sep 2025

The movement has also gained traction internationally, with the global Kashmiri diaspora mobilizing in Europe and North America. In the United Kingdom, significant protests have taken place outside the Pakistan High Commission in London and the Pakistani consulates in Birmingham, Manchester, and Bradford. Demonstrators, including members of the Kashmiri community and their supporters, have called for international attention to the situation in AJK, accusing the Pakistani government of neglecting the region’s economic and political needs. Similar protests have been reported in cities across the United States and Canada, where Kashmiri activists have organized rallies to highlight the ongoing crisis.

Protest in Dhir Kot on 29 Sep 2025

The AAC’s demands stem from long-standing grievances over high electricity tariffs, inflation, and limited political representation. In May 2024, similar protests led to violent clashes, resulting in casualties and widespread arrests, which further fueled public discontent. The current wave of protests, described as a "renewed push," reflects growing frustration over the government’s perceived inaction in addressing these issues. Protest leaders have accused authorities of failing to honor earlier commitments made to resolve the region’s economic challenges.

Analysts suggest that the protests could have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s federal government, which is already grappling with economic instability and political polarization. The involvement of the Kashmiri diaspora in major global cities underscores the international dimension of the crisis, potentially putting pressure on Pakistan to engage in dialogue with AJK’s leadership.

As the protests show no signs of abating, the AAC has called for sustained action, urging residents to maintain the lockdown and strike until their demands are addressed. Social media platforms, including X, have been abuzz with hashtags and posts supporting the movement, with many users sharing images of crowded rallies and blocked highways. The hashtag #AJKProtests has been trending in Pakistan and among Kashmiri communities abroad, amplifying the call for change.

People in Azad Kashmir protesting for basic rights - BBC

Local residents, speaking anonymously due to fears of reprisal, expressed a mix of hope and frustration. “We are tired of promises that lead nowhere,” said one protester in Muzaffarabad. “This is about our survival, our dignity, and our right to a better life.” Another demonstrator in London emphasized the global solidarity, stating, “We are standing with our brothers and sisters in AJK. Their fight is our fight.”

British Kashmiris protesting outside Pakistani consulate Birmingham

The Pakistani government has yet to issue a formal response to the ongoing protests, though sources indicate that officials are holding emergency meetings to address the situation. With the lockdown and strikes set to continue, the crisis in AJK is poised to remain a focal point of regional and international attention in the coming days.

This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as the situation evolves.