Kashmiris in the UK Protest Against Brutality by Pakistani Forces in POK

London, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : A significant demonstration took place across the United Kingdom on November 10, where British Kashmiris gathered in cities including London, Manchester, Bradford, and Birmingham. The protests were organized outside Pakistani diplomatic missions, aiming to draw attention to the brutal actions perpetrated by Pakistani forces against civilians in Rawalakot and other areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (POK).

These rallies were prompted by alarming reports of recent violence. Pakistani security forces allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters in the Rawalakot region and conducted drone strikes, resulting in multiple fatalities, including women and children, and leaving many others severely injured.

The Joint Action Committee, representing the British Kashmiri community, submitted an urgent memorandum to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This document calls for immediate measures to ensure civilian safety amid escalating violence, the provision of medical and humanitarian aid, the preservation of evidence, and the resumption of direct dialogue regarding POK.

The memorandum was presented in light of new casualties and serious allegations arising from security operations in Rawalakot on November 5, 2026. The signatories emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian intervention, warning that delays could exacerbate civilian suffering, deepen feelings of isolation, disrupt law and order, and eliminate any remaining prospects for peaceful negotiations.

The document also urged the Pakistani government to take action in cases of confirmed deaths, address existing information gaps, and ensure a prompt and fair investigation into the serious allegations of abuse in POK. Furthermore, it called on authorities to respond to recent concerns raised by six United Nations (UN) special procedures regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied region.

The signatories referenced the UN experts’ concerns, which include the designation of the Joint Action Committee as a terrorist organization, anti-terrorism measures, alleged extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, communication restrictions, and the inclusion of 205 individuals under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law’s fourth schedule.

The memorandum also demands necessary interim measures to prevent alleged violations from occurring again. It stresses that the use of weapons to disperse crowds should never be permissible and that lethal force can only be legally justified when absolutely necessary to save lives from imminent danger.

The protestors urged the government to prioritize civilian protection, provide medical care for the injured, secure evidence, account for detainees and the missing, review restrictions and actions taken under the fourth schedule, respond to the UN, and promptly resume authorized negotiations. This memorandum serves as a call for leadership, restraint within the bounds of law, and a credible political resolution. The commitment of Pakistan to uphold the rights and dignity of Kashmiris must now be demonstrated through security, truth, accountability, due legal process, and the enforcement of agreements.