New Delhi: International concern is mounting over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after more than 30 British parliamentarians raised alarm over a communications blackout, mass arrests and restrictions on civil liberties in the region, while both the United Kingdom and the United States have reportedly issued fresh advisories amid deteriorating security conditions.
In a letter to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the cross-party group of MPs led by Labour MP Imran Hussain urged the British government to seek explanations from Islamabad regarding reports of suspended mobile and internet services, curbs on movement and the detention of activists linked to ongoing protests in PoK.
The developments come amid a crackdown on demonstrations organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society platform that has led protests against inflation, rising electricity tariffs, governance failures and demands for greater political rights. According to reports, authorities have imposed restrictions across several districts, suspended communication services and moved against protest organisers.
The UK lawmakers said British Kashmiris had contacted them after losing communication with relatives in the region, raising concerns about the welfare of residents amid the reported blackout. Protests have also been held outside the Pakistani High Commission in London, with demonstrators demanding restoration of communications and the release of detained activists.
Reports indicate that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advisory for the region, citing political rallies, protests and the possibility of a deteriorating law-and-order situation. Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly warned its citizens against travel to parts of the region between June 5 and June 20 due to security concerns.
For India, the developments are significant as New Delhi has consistently maintained that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are integral parts of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. India has repeatedly highlighted concerns over democratic deficits, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and alleged human rights violations in these territories.
The intervention by British lawmakers, coupled with international travel advisories and reports of a communications shutdown, has brought renewed global attention to governance and civil rights issues in PoK, a region that has increasingly witnessed public protests against Pakistani authorities over economic and political grievances.
