Standing for Gaza and Jammu Kashmir while staying silent on Azad Kashmir makes no sense
Every 5th of February, Pakistani social media is full of posts. We write about Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, we host rallies, and we share solidarity. Same thing happens with Gaza. We talk about it, complaining about internet blackouts, state pressure, and innocent people being cut off from the rest of the world.
But right now, something serious is happening inside Azad Kashmir, and almost nobody in our online community is talking about it. Since early June, life there has been disrupted. Internet is down, roads are blocked, and people are stuck.
How can we preach freedom for others when we ignore what happens right inside our own home?
What is actually happening on the ground
Around June 5th, local authorities banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) under anti-terrorism laws. Right after that, police and security personnel were sent to cities like Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Mirpur, and Kotli. Containers were placed to block roads, and mobile internet was down so people could not talk or coordinate.
Why were people protesting in the first place? They had very simple demands. Lower electricity rates, fair wheat subsidies, and an end to the 12 legislative seats given to non-residents. People just want real representation from locals who actually live there.
Instead of listening to these basic demands, the response was a complete blackout. Blocking roads, shutting down mobile networks, and locking up activists does not fix problems. It just covers them up.
The double standard we need to address
When communications are shut down in Gaza or Srinagar, we rightly call it collective punishment. We make videos, write posts, and ask the international community to speak up.
So why are we quiet when the same thing happens in Azad Kashmir?
When roads get blocked and internet is shut off in Muzaffarabad to stop people from protesting, it is the exact same tactic. You cannot claim to stand for Kashmiri freedom while ignoring police action and internet bans on this side of the border.
Are we only allowed to talk about taking back the rest of Kashmir, while turning the Kashmir on our side into a silent zone?
Taxpayer money used against taxpayers
We pay taxes on everything in Pakistan. Our mobile balance, electricity bills, even daily groceries. Where is that tax money actually going right now?
It is being used to move security forces, transport heavy containers, and maintain lockdowns. Instead of using public money to give relief on electricity bills or build better roads, it is spent on suppressing the same people who paid those taxes.
When state machinery uses public money to silence public demands, that is not administration. That is just force.
A message to local and international writers
To all writers in Pakistan and around the world, it is time to look at this situation closely. It is easy to write about issues far away where you face zero pressure or risk. But honest writing means pointing out what is wrong in your own country too.
If we truly stand for human rights, we must speak up for Azad Kashmir today. Mobile internet must be restored, road blocks must be removed, and local committees need peaceful dialogue, not jail cells.
Look into the situation, write about it on Hive or elsewhere, and stand for justice everywhere, without selective bias.
All writers on this topic can send me a discord dm with post link on dlmmqb, I will LIKELY upvote it and might drop a 10 PAKX reward for posts with links/references/videos. Just make sure it's not misinformation or links/videos taken from older dates or different protests. NO REWARDS ARE GUARANTEED!
