80,000 gather at Rawalakot rally
Anti-government protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered their 24th day, with more than 80,000 demonstrators gathering at Eidgah grounds in Rawalakot, where Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Sardar Aman Khan levelled one of the sharpest accusations yet against Pakistan’s security establishment.
Khan alleges Pakistan Army supplied weapons to Kashmiris
Khan alleged that it was Pakistan’s military that originally supplied weapons to Kashmiris, claiming the Pakistan Army had handed arms to locals in the past despite now branding them as terrorists. “It was the Pakistan Army itself that handed guns to Kashmiris. And today, they have the audacity to call us terrorists,” he told the gathering.
Reference to Jaish-e-Mohammed rally last year
Addressing the crowd, Khan referred to a Jaish-e-Mohammed event held in February last year, in which armed participants reportedly marched through the city carrying weapons including AK-47s and swords. He alleged that the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalakot had permitted the rally and provided it security. “Deputy Commissioner Rawalkot, you used to organise rallies here with guns and swords. Do you remember? And you will call us terrorists. All these people (protesters) are heirs of this land,” he said, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
Khan warns of escalation if 38 demands not met
Khan warned the Pakistani government that if the movement’s 38 demands were not accepted and implemented, the protests would escalate beyond their current scope into a broader movement demanding that Pakistan vacate PoK entirely.
Protesters signal openness to engaging with India
Two days prior to Khan’s address, protesters in Rawalakot had voiced opposition to Islamabad’s administrative control over the region. Speakers at that demonstration argued the region should no longer be considered under Pakistan’s control and raised the possibility of seeking closer engagement with India. Khan reiterated this position, asserting that PoK was not part of Pakistan and that Pakistan needed the region more than the region needed Pakistan.
Solidarity protests held outside Pakistani missions abroad
The demonstrations are not confined to PoK itself — supporters living overseas have organised protests outside Pakistani diplomatic missions in several countries in solidarity with the movement.
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