Tensions prevailed in Rawalkot region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Thursday (July 30, 2026) as clashes continued between security forces and the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

The tensions, which have claimed several lives this week, coincide with ongoing regional elections in PoK, with demonstrators affiliated with JAAC determined to march towards Muzaffarabad to press Islamabad to accept their demands.

The JAAC is a collective of activist groups which have been staging demonstrations for nearly two months over 12 contentious seats of the so-called Legislative Assembly in PoK. It alleges that the establishment manoeuvres these seats to install a Prime Minister of its choosing.

India has described the elections as an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and hide its “grave” human rights violations in the region.

“India’s position on this matter has been clear, consistent, and well known. The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the areas currently under Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation, are integral and inalienable parts of India,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in Delhi on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).

“As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are the direct consequences of Pakistan’s economic exploitation, its denial of the people’s fundamental rights, and its administrative oppression,” he said.

In PoK, clashes between security forces and protesters have intensified since Monday, especially in Rawalkot and Mirpur, which reportedly resulted in maximum casualties.

According to the JAAC, at least 37 people, including women and children, were killed in the violence.

“The number of those injured remains unknown. Amid heavy gunfire, our people have continued to stand peacefully and unarmed. God willing, our peaceful struggle against oppression and injustice will continue,” it said in a statement.

However, the Pakistan government denied any death of civilians, saying militants of the banned Tehrik-e Taliban are present among the protesters and crackdown against them will continue.

“We will not talk to the protesters and law will take its course,” Pakistan State Minister for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhary said.

Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have expressed concerns over reports of violence in the region, calling on the authorities to probe the incidents.

The military-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine out of 13 seats in the first phase of elections held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Election Commission said on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).

There were allegations of massive rigging in the first phase of the polls held on Monday (July 27, 2026), in which the Pakistan’s People Party (PPP) won the remaining seats.

Both parties are coalition partners at the federal level.

The elections for 45 contesting seats in the so-called Legislative Assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are happening in three phases between July 27 and August 10.

India maintains that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of it. New Delhi also asserts that Pakistan has been in “illegal and forcible occupation” of parts of these Union Territories.

According to preliminary results issued by the Election Commission on Tuesday, the PML-N led by the Sharif brothers— Nawaz and Shehbaz— emerged as the winner in nine constituencies while the PPP led by the Bhuttos secured four seats.

Alleging rigging in seven seats, PPP senior leader Nayyar Bokhari said: “Our winning seats have been gifted to the PML-N.” Other senior PPP leaders have demanded the Election Commission not to announce results till investigation of rigging in certain constituencies is not completed.

Rana Sanaullah, adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has dismissed rigging allegations saying elections were largely held in a “peaceful and fair” manner, and violence was reported in one constituency.

A PPP worker was killed and two were injured in a violent clash on the polling day, allegedly triggered by an incident of firing by the PML-N leader.

The elections are taking place after nearly two months of violence in the region, in which several were killed. It was triggered by a demand of abolition of 12 contentious refugee seats by the Joint Awami Action Committee, which spearheaded prolonged protests, leading to crackdown by security forces.

India on July 14 had described the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a “direct consequence” of Islamabad’s decades-long “systemic exploitation and administrative oppression” in areas under its “forcible” occupation and criticised the police brutality on the protesters.