Pakistan announced grant Monday to provide tens of millions of dollars in urgent economic relief to residents of Kashmir under its control after a weekend of violent protests rocked the valley.
Still, violence showed no immediate signs of abating as locals torched a vehicle of the Rangers, a Pakistani paramilitary force, as its convoy attempted to reach the region's capital Muzaffarabad in a rare show of force.
Reports indicate paramilitary troops fired at demonstrators blocking their way injuring several. At least three of the wounded died. More casualties are feared as clashes continue in parts of the region.
Life on the Pakistani side of the territory disputed with India has been at a standstill since Friday as protesters demonstrate against inflation and demand improved local services.
Schools, businesses and government offices were shut across the valley Monday. However, mobile internet services — suspended since early Sunday — were briefly restored before being taken down as violence intensified.
Protest movement
Protests primarily aimed at seeking government subsidy for wheat flour, and a reduction in the price of locally produced electricity began in the valley last year.
Clashes erupted Friday with locals pelting stones at security vehicles as authorities rounded up organizers of a long-march, and blocked roads to prevent protesters from reaching Muzaffarabad.
The ensuing violence that saw dozens arrested, a police officer killed and several injured subsided Sunday. Since then, groups of marchers, led by the Joint Public Action Committee, a civic rights movement, proceeded to the regional capital, largely unimpeded.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called an emergency meeting with representatives of the regional government of Pakistani Kashmir on Monday.
An official statement after the meeting announced a cut in flour prices and a reduction in electricity tariffs through a grant of over $82.6 million.
Expressing “deep concern” over the violence in the rare mass protest in the region, Sharif on Sunday took to social media platform X, to urge calm.
“While debate, discussion and peaceful protests are the beauties of democracy, there should be absolutely no tolerance for taking the law in one's own hands and damaging government properties,” Sharif said. “I urge all parties to resort to [a] peaceful course of action for resolution of their demands. Despite best efforts of detractors, the matter will hopefully be settled soon.”
The issue
The protests ostensibly about inflation represent a struggle for autonomy over regional resources, local journalist Jalaluddin Mughal told VOA.
Pakistan recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. India and Pakistan are both expected to conduct a plebiscite, a direct vote by eligible voters to decide the issue, according to United Nations resolutions.
India ended the autonomous status of its part of Kashmir in 2019, prompting fierce diplomatic protests from Pakistan.
While Islamabad does not recognize Pakistani-controlled Kashmir as a province or a federating unit, it utilizes the region’s resources all the same. Kashmir’s rivers are a lifeline for the South Asian nation that relies on them for agriculture and electricity production.
Locals have been demanding that electricity produced from Kashmir’s rivers be sold to them at a price that is close to the cost of production. They want Pakistan to remove most additional taxes and administrative charges.
“If the government accepts this, it will accept the right of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to [own and control] the natural resources,” Mughal explained.
For protesting residents facing hours-long blackouts and skyrocketing utility bills, the latest reduction in electricity tariffs is a temporary relief, according to Mughal, as the government statement does not clarify the duration of the grant or if it will be renewed.
As protests intensify again, the Joint Public Action Committee has not yet announced if it will accept the government’s offer and end the long march.