Partial Shutdown in PaJK as JAAC Offers Talks

MUZAFFARABAD: A partial shutdown was observed across six districts of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Monday in response to a protest call by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

The organisation has also offered negotiations with the authorities and appealed directly to Pakistan's military leadership to halt security operations following deadly clashes in Rawalakot.

Markets and commercial establishments remained partially closed in Muzaffarabad, Haveli, Neelum, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber, while business activity continued largely uninterrupted in Bagh and Jhelum Valley. The uneven response reflected the varying levels of support for the protest call across the region, although demonstrations and commercial closures extended well beyond Rawalakot, the centre of the latest confrontation.

In Muzaffarabad, local sources reported that police personnel attempted to force traders to reopen their shops in several commercial areas. However, some shopkeepers reportedly lowered their shutters again after police withdrew from the locations.

Reports of firing, tear-gas shelling and baton charges also emerged from different areas during the protests. The extent of injuries, arrests and property damage could not immediately be established.

The shutdown followed a call issued by the JAAC on November 7 in protest against security operations in Rawalakot, where several civilians were reportedly killed during confrontations involving security forces between November 5 and 7.

Initial accounts from Rawalakot reported three civilian deaths and at least 18 injuries. Subsequent reports suggested a higher toll, with some accounts putting the number of fatalities at seven. The JAAC has reported five deaths in the immediate confrontation. The conflicting figures could not be independently reconciled.

Protest representatives have accused security forces of using drones, mortar shells and heavy weapons against demonstrators and residential areas. Police, however, have maintained that armed individuals attacked security personnel during operations to clear protest encampments and reopen roads.

The latest shutdown came a day after the JAAC made a significant political move by reaching out to Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and other influential figures, seeking intervention to end the confrontation and open negotiations.

A video of Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri’s important address at Darik Eidgah, Rawalakot November 9, 2026, shared on X.

JAAC Appeals to Pakistan Army Chief

In a letter dated November 8, the action committee appealed to Field Marshal Munir to intervene and bring an immediate end to security operations in Rawalakot and other affected areas.

The committee accused security forces of employing disproportionate force against civilians and warned that continued military operations could deepen mistrust between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's state institutions.

It also addressed letters to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Dr Mushtaq, seeking their intervention in facilitating a peaceful settlement.

In its communication to the army chief, the JAAC alleged that drones, mortar shells and other heavy weapons had been used against peaceful protesters. It claimed that approximately 150 people had been killed since the protest movement began in June, although the cumulative figure has not been independently verified.

The committee rejected attempts to portray its campaign as terrorism or an armed rebellion, insisting that its demands were political, democratic and related to the rights of the population.

It recalled the historical participation of Kashmiris in Pakistan's armed forces since 1947, pointing out that thousands of families in the region have longstanding connections with the military.

Despite those ties, the committee argued, the population was being subjected to coercive security measures for demanding its rights.

The letter warned that the continued use of force would further widen the gulf between the population and Pakistan's institutions, making an eventual political settlement more difficult.

The JAAC urged the military leadership to facilitate meaningful negotiations rather than rely on security operations to suppress the movement.

Overseas Committee Proposes Talks

In a parallel development, the JAAC's overseas advisory committee issued a separate proposal on November 8, offering immediate negotiations with the authorities under the supervision of independent observers.

The committee proposed that authorised delegations representing the government and the JAAC meet within 24 hours at a mutually acceptable neutral location.

It said independent observers should be present to ensure transparency and build confidence between the two sides.

The proposal called for an immediate cessation of firing and other coercive measures against demonstrators, along with guarantees protecting the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

The advisory committee also demanded that the bodies of those killed during security operations be handed over to their families with dignity and without delay.

It called for unrestricted medical treatment for injured protesters, irrespective of their political affiliations or alleged involvement in demonstrations.

Another major demand concerned the whereabouts of people arrested during the security operations.

The committee asked the authorities to release a complete and verified list of detainees, identifying their places of detention and providing families with information about their legal status.

It also sought the restoration of mobile telephone and internet services in affected areas, arguing that communication restrictions were obstructing the flow of information and making it difficult for families to contact relatives.

Probe into Rawalakot Killings Sought

The overseas advisory committee proposed the formation of a joint fact-finding delegation comprising political representatives, legal experts and human rights observers.

Under the proposal, the delegation would visit Rawalakot and other affected areas, meet families of the deceased, interview injured protesters and record statements from police and administrative officials.

It would also examine evidence relating to the alleged use of heavy weapons, damage to residential properties and the circumstances surrounding civilian fatalities.

The committee proposed that the delegation preserve available evidence and issue a preliminary report within 48 hours of beginning its investigation.

It further demanded an independent, transparent and time-bound inquiry into all deaths and allegations of unlawful use of force.

The proposal appeared designed to create conditions for negotiations while addressing the immediate humanitarian and legal concerns arising from the Rawalakot operation.

However, there was no confirmed indication by Monday evening that the authorities had accepted the proposed timetable or agreed to negotiations in the presence of independent observers.

The latest protests followed several days of intense confrontation in Rawalakot, where security forces moved against protest encampments near Matiyalmera Bus Terminal and Umar Farooq Chowk.

According to local accounts, firing continued around the protest locations on November 6, a day after the initial operation.

The JAAC alleged that two people were killed and four young men injured near the bus terminal during subsequent firing.

Residents also reported prolonged firing around Umar Farooq Chowk and alleged that security personnel advanced towards the protest site from several directions.

One particularly serious allegation concerned a father and daughter reportedly killed during firing, whose bodies were allegedly taken into custody by security personnel.

Protest representatives claimed that people attempting to recover the bodies were also fired upon. These allegations could not be independently verified, and a senior official reportedly denied receiving information about additional deaths at the time.

The uncertainty surrounding the casualty figures and the whereabouts of some alleged victims has become a central issue in the committee's demands for an independent investigation.

PM’s Convoy Obstructed

Meanwhile, tensions also surfaced in Jhelum Valley on November 8 when protesters reportedly attempted to obstruct the route of Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani as he returned from an official visit.

According to local accounts, stones were placed on the road in an attempt to stop his convoy.

Several people were reportedly detained in connection with the incident, although their identities and the precise number of arrests were not immediately available.

There were also reports that another 15 individuals had been placed under the Fourth Schedule, a legal mechanism allowing authorities to impose restrictions and monitoring on designated persons.

Independent confirmation of the reported additions and the grounds for the designations was unavailable.

A separate controversy emerged after a video circulated showing an exchange between journalist Haider Shirazi and the chief secretary of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir at Pakistan's Parliament House.

In the recording, the journalist appeared to question the senior official about the prevailing situation in the territory.

The official was reportedly heard warning him against publishing the video on social media or through news outlets, using the words, "I will screw you."

The recording raised concerns about the treatment of journalists reporting on the unrest, although its complete context and authenticity have not been independently established.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has already expressed concern over the violence in Rawalakot and called for meaningful dialogue and independent media access to affected areas.

The commission has urged the authorities to prevent further bloodshed and ensure that journalists can report without obstruction.

Political Uncertainty Continues

The latest developments have placed renewed pressure on the regional administration and Pakistan's security establishment to respond to the JAAC's offer of negotiations.

While security forces have reportedly regained control of some protest locations in Rawalakot, the demonstrations and partial shutdowns across six districts on Monday suggest that the operation has not ended the confrontation.

The JAAC's decision to approach Pakistan's army chief directly is particularly significant, reflecting its attempt to secure intervention beyond the regional administration.

Its simultaneous offer of negotiations, coupled with demands for independent investigations and disclosure of detainees' whereabouts, has created a possible opening for de-escalation.

However, the absence of a formal response from the authorities, continuing disagreements over the death toll and reports of further police action have left the prospects for an immediate settlement uncertain.

With protests now extending across several districts, the coming days are likely to test whether the authorities respond to the committee's overtures through negotiations or continue to rely primarily on security measures.