New Delhi, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Protests over alleged repression in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are set to acquire an international dimension from August 13, with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) calling on Kashmiris living abroad to organise rallies and draw global attention to the situation in the region.
The AAC has also announced that August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day, will be observed as a Black Day. Demonstrations are expected to be organised outside Pakistani embassies and diplomatic missions in several countries.
Protests in PoK have continued for more than two months, with demonstrators alleging a heavy-handed response by Pakistani security forces. Protesters have claimed that more than 60 people have been killed and over 500 injured. There have also been concerns over alleged forced disappearances in the region.
The AAC has urged the PoK diaspora to use the August 13 rallies to highlight what it describes as atrocities against civilians and to draw the attention of the international community to their grievances.
The call comes amid allegations by the AAC of military firing and escalating repression. The committee has described the alleged actions of the Pakistani establishment as state-sponsored terror. The Pakistani authorities, however, have portrayed the protesters differently, with the AAC alleging that the establishment has attempted to label them as terrorists.
Observers tracking developments in PoK believe the absence of a resolution and continued confrontation between protesters and authorities could further aggravate the situation. They argue that international attention could increase pressure for a resolution to the grievances being raised by protesters.
The PoK diaspora, estimated at around two million, could play a significant role in taking the issue to the international stage. A substantial proportion of the diaspora originates from Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur districts. The United Kingdom has the largest concentration, with estimates ranging between one million and 1.5 million people, while others live in the Middle East, North America, Canada and the United States.
Officials cited in the report alleged that Pakistani authorities have sought to restrict communication from the region to prevent the situation from receiving wider international attention. They claimed that reported figures on deaths, injuries and disappearances could represent only a fraction of the actual situation, although these allegations could not be independently verified.
With the AAC now seeking coordinated demonstrations abroad, concerns have emerged that Pakistani authorities may further tighten restrictions on information and communication from PoK.
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