AJK on Edge as JAAC Strike and Long March Tensions Grow

Azad Jammu and Kashmir entered a tense new phase on Tuesday as authorities prepared for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike announced by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee. The situation remained particularly sensitive in Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad after deadly clashes left civilians and law enforcement personnel dead.

The planned protest is linked to JAAC’s wider campaign over political and governance demands, including its call for a long march from Bhimber toward Muzaffarabad. According to the movement’s earlier plan, participants were expected to pass through Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch before reaching the AJK Legislative Assembly for a sit-in.

Officials, however, indicated that the government would not permit protesters to assemble for a wider march. Security measures were strengthened across key routes, while authorities said recent arrests and pressure on the group’s leadership had reduced the likelihood of large crowds gathering in major towns.

Government figures cited by officials said more than 200 people had been rounded up during the crackdown against JAAC. One official described the situation as fluid, saying smaller protests could still take place even if the organisation’s central leadership was unable to mobilise supporters on a larger scale.

The latest crisis follows violent incidents in Rawalakot, where seven civilians and four law enforcement personnel were reported dead after clashes outside and around the Combined Military Hospital. Local officials alleged that protesters blocked access to the facility and disrupted medical services, while the unrest further deepened public anxiety across the region.

Authorities said they would not force traders to keep businesses open, but warned that no group would be allowed to pressure shopkeepers into observing the strike. Officials also stated that peaceful conduct would be tolerated, while any attempt to damage property, attack personnel or block public order would invite firm legal action.

The funeral prayers of three AJK policemen were held at Rawalakot Police Lines with official honours. Senior civil, police and military officials attended the prayers, reflecting the seriousness with which the administration is treating the security fallout from the clashes.

The dispute has wider political significance because JAAC’s demands touch on sensitive constitutional and administrative questions, including the future of refugee seats in the AJK legislature. Supporters of the movement view the issue as central to political representation, while government circles argue that such changes must be settled through elected institutions rather than street pressure.

For Pakistan, the renewed instability in AJK carries political, security and governance implications at a delicate time. The coming days will test whether the regional administration can restore calm without triggering further confrontation, while pressure is likely to grow on all sides to return to dialogue before the crisis expands.