• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Thousands in Rawalakot declared PoJK not part of Pakistan.
  2. Protesters warned of shifting allegiance towards India.
  3. Food blockade by Pakistan fueled widespread anger.

PoK Protests: Thousands of demonstrators on Tuesday gathered at the Eidgah Ground in Rawalakot and reiterated that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is not part of Pakistan. The protesters also warned of a potential permanent shift in allegiance towards India.

Thousands Rally In Rawalkot

This intense escalation was triggered by widespread public fury after Pakistani authorities reportedly imposed a severe two-week blockade on essential food supplies and rations, pushing an already aggrieved population to the brink and significantly deepening regional geopolitical tensions. 

ALSO READ: ‘Not Real Kashmiris’: Pakistan Defence Minister Faces Backlash Over Identity Remark On PoK Residents Amid Protests

Addressing the crowd, civil rights activist Sardar Aman Khan warned that persistent economic suppression could force residents to seek closer ties with India. He stated that if the Pakistani establishment maintains its blockade on essential food supplies, "the remaining borders of PoJK could open up.” Khan said, "PoK is not a part of Pakistan. We do not need Pakistan; rather, it is Pakistan that desperately needs PoK."

He further claimed that if this threshold is crossed, the geopolitical dynamic will shift so drastically that Islamabad will be left pleading with the people of PoK. Videos of the demonstration have also emerged online.

Kashmiri Identity Row

The declaration also comes amid a row over regional identity, sparked by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who publicly questioned the "Kashmiri identity" of people in PoK, specifically targeting those from Rawalakot. His remark had drawn sharp condemnation from PoK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who said that PoK residents do not need external validation of their identity and demanded an immediate apology from Islamabad.

ALSO READ: 'Don't Need Validation': PoK PM Hits Back At Khawaja Asif Over 'Kashmiri' Identity Remark, Demands Apology

Meanwhile, the unrest in PoK has rapidly expanded beyond Rawalakot, marked by a continuous sit-in protest near the Line of Control (LoC) since June 9. The movement is reportedly centred around a 38-point charter of demands highlighting decades of state repression, soaring inflation and administrative neglect.

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