Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Endures 6-Week Internet Blackout as JAAC Protests Snarl Roads Before July 27 Vote
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 24
Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Endures 6-Week Internet Blackout as JAAC Protests Snarl Roads Before July 27 Vote
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 24
Summary
Mobile data and broadband across Pakistan-administered Kashmir have been shut since June 5, while JAAC-linked roadblocks in Poonch Division have disrupted travel, supplies and work for six weeks ahead of phased assembly elections.
12 reserved assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees helped trigger the unrest after authorities banned JAAC in June, and the standoff has since led to strikes, sit-ins and clashes that killed dozens of protesters and security personnel.
140km to Islamabad became a life-or-death journey for one family seeking emergency care, while students face postponed medical entrance exams, traders report wheat shortages and residents say transport and groceries have become costlier.
15 million to 20 million Pakistani rupees in losses hit one Muzaffarabad printing business as banks, ATMs and digital payments faltered, even as officials said internet access remained available at limited sites and most areas were functioning normally.
July 27 marks the start of voting, but residents describe fading support for JAAC's refugee-seat demand and growing anger that a regionwide shutdown is punishing daily life more than shaping the election.
With an academic year lost and commerce paralyzed, who is truly paying the price for Kashmir's political deadlock?
Can postponed elections resolve Kashmir's deep-rooted crisis of trust after weeks of deadly protests and shutdowns?
Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Elections in Crisis: 44 Killed, 12-Day Blackout, and Protests Threaten Legitimacy
Overview
Pakistan-administered Kashmir is facing a volatile crisis marked by weeks of intense protests and dozens of fatalities, all unfolding as the region prepares for its legislative elections. The unrest has forced authorities to alter the election schedule, splitting voting across three days to manage escalating tensions. Widespread demonstrations, fueled by economic hardship and concerns over political representation, have led to a harsh government response, including a prolonged internet blackout and a crackdown on civic groups. These actions have created a deeply challenging environment for the electoral process, raising serious questions about the credibility and fairness of the upcoming elections.