Rawalakot (PoK): In a statement that has sparked widespread attention, a leading protest figure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has accused the Pakistani Army of arming Kashmiris in the past while now branding them as terrorists. The remarks come as anti-government protests continue to intensify across the region, posing one of the biggest public challenges to Islamabad’s authority in recent years.
Addressing a large public rally at Rawalakot’s Eidgah ground, Sardar Aman Khan, a senior leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), alleged that the Pakistan Army itself had supplied weapons to Kashmiris during earlier phases of the conflict.
“It was the Pakistan Army that put guns into the hands of Kashmiris. Today, they are calling us terrorists,” Khan told thousands of protesters, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
The statement has gained significant attention because it comes from a prominent leader of the ongoing protest movement in PoK. Pakistan’s military has not publicly responded to the allegation.
PoK protests: JAAC leader warns Islamabad
‘Pakistan army pushed guns into the hands of Kashmiris’ @AadhyaJunejaa has more pic.twitter.com/vj0mB9faSP
— WION (@WIONews) July 3, 2026
Protests Expand Beyond Economic Demands
The demonstrations, now stretching into their fourth week, began over rising electricity tariffs, inflation, and shortages of subsidised wheat. However, the movement has steadily evolved into a broader campaign against what protesters describe as Islamabad’s neglect of the region and increasing interference in local governance.
Organisers claimed that more than 80,000 people attended the Rawalakot rally, making it one of the largest public gatherings witnessed in PoK in recent years.
Fresh Allegations Against Authorities
During his address, Aman Khan also alleged that local authorities had allowed members of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed to hold armed processions in Rawalakot under official security cover. According to him, participants openly displayed assault rifles during the rallies. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by Pakistani authorities.
Warning to Islamabad
The JAAC leadership warned that the agitation would intensify if the Pakistan government failed to implement its 38-point charter of demands, which includes economic relief, greater administrative accountability, and enhanced local rights. Some protest leaders have also raised demands for Pakistan to end what they describe as its control over the region.
Pressure Mounts on Pakistan
The continuing unrest has exposed growing public resentment in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over economic hardship and governance issues. With increasingly sharp criticism directed at both the civilian administration and the military establishment, the movement has emerged as one of the most serious internal challenges facing Islamabad in the disputed territory.
Sardar Aman Khan’s allegation that the Pakistani Army once armed Kashmiris—and is now accusing them of terrorism—adds a dramatic and controversial dimension to the unfolding crisis. While the claim has generated intense debate, it remains an allegation made by a protest leader and has not been independently verified.
