Pakistani Rangers Open Fire on Protesters Near LoC; 2 Dead, 8 Wounded in Fresh AJK Violence
Pakistani Army and Rangers forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) today, allegedly killing at least two people and wounding eight others in the latest violent crackdown against an escalating anti-government protest movement in the region.
Exclusive footage obtained by @soldierspeaks shows that approximately 70 to 80 protesters had gathered in Battal village, located in Poonch district just metres from the Line of Control (LoC), around 7:30 AM local time. As the group prepared to march toward Rawalakot, Pakistani troops stationed in the area responded with live ammunition and tear gas.
Visuals from the scene show thick smoke blanketing the village as firing intensified. Protesters are seen fleeing toward nearby hilltops in a desperate bid to evade the ongoing assault. Ground sources tell @soldierspeaks that Rangers fired over 50 rounds during the operation.
Two protesters sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the chest. Video footage shows residents rushing the critically injured on traditional charpoys toward a local hospital, but both men succumbed to their injuries before receiving medical care. They have been identified as Anjum and Ghulam Sarwar.
With the latest fatalities, the death toll from Pakistan's ongoing crackdown on the protest movement has risen to 58.
The violence comes amid mounting concerns over a potential large-scale operation against demonstrators currently gathered at Eidgah Ground, where more than 60,000 people remain assembled. Tensions have further escalated following a notification from the AJK administration that designates 150 protesters, organisers, and supporters as "terrorists" under Schedule-4 of the country's anti-terrorism laws.
Among those blacklisted are prominent protest leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Umar Nazir, Khawaja Mehran, and Aman Khan. One notable figure on the list is Chaudhry Tariq Mahmood of Mirpur, a UK-based activist who spent over two decades championing Pakistan's official stance on Jammu and Kashmir and organising more than 1,200 anti-India demonstrations outside the Indian High Commission in London. Despite his long-standing service to Islamabad's narrative, Mahmood has now been designated a terrorist after voicing criticism of Pakistani military establishment's actions in AJK.
Further updates will follow in the upcoming Livestream.
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🚨Azad Kashmir Update:
Pakistan has now totally shut down all internet and communication services in Azad Kashmir. Our people have been cut off from the outside world.
Pakistani forces shot several people in Rawalakot, deaths reported.
It’s now up to Azad Kashmirs diaspora to make sure our people are not left alone & their voice is heard by the rest of the world, we are now their voice!