UN Demands Independent Probe into Deadly Unrest in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir

The United Nations human rights office has expressed deep concern over a recent wave of unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, calling for prompt, independent investigations into the deaths of protesters and security personnel ahead of regional elections. In a statement issued from Geneva on Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged calm as tensions escalate ahead of the July 27 legislative assembly polls.

According to the UN, dozens of people—the majority protesters, along with some law enforcement officials—have been killed since June. Türk called for thorough and impartial inquiries into all deaths linked to the unrest, emphasizing the need for accountability.

The UN also voiced concern over the banning of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society movement leading the protests, under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws on grounds of threatening public order and security. Several JAAC leaders have been arrested. The UN rights office stated that criminalising a civil society organisation and restricting public gatherings raise serious questions about the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

It urged authorities to ensure detained JAAC leaders have access to legal counsel, contact with families, and full due process. The statement also criticised restrictions on internet access in the region, calling on authorities to restore full connectivity. Türk stressed the need for meaningful, inclusive political dialogue to address underlying grievances of the local population.

India, which claims the entire former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, responded on July 14 through its Ministry of External Affairs. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the protests are a direct consequence of Pakistan’s “decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.” He accused Islamabad of responding with excessive police brutality instead of addressing legitimate grievances, and called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for alleged abuses.

The region has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, with both claiming it in full. Pakistan-administered Kashmir, often referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has its own legislative assembly, but the UN considers it a disputed territory under international law.