At least six civilians were killed after Pakistani security forces opened fire during clashes near the New Bus Terminal in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following a crackdown on civilians.
Among those killed in the Baloch Sadhunati district were Zahid Mughal, Zafar Mughal, Arsalan Akbar and Wajid Hayat, who died at the Matial Mira Bus Terminal in Rawalakot. The latest violence has further escalated tensions in the region.
A day before the incident, members of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir community in the United States staged a protest outside the White House, urging global attention to what they described as a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Protesters also called for the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from civilian areas and demanded humanitarian assistance for affected residents.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs criticised the developments in the region. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The ongoing protests in PoJK are a direct consequence of Pakistan’s decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.”
