“Enemies Like India”: Pakistan Defence Minister Justifies Violent Crackdown on PoK Protesters

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sparked intense outrage by defending the lethal crackdown on demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), equating local Kashmiri protesters with “enemies” like India. Speaking amid escalating unrest and violent clashes between security forces and civilian demonstrators led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Asif categorically rejected calls for dialogue, stating he places the agitators in the same category as India and considers them enemies of the state. The deadly clashes—triggered by long-standing grievances over economic exploitation, soaring living costs, and basic rights—have resulted in over 30 civilian deaths following heavy-handed police actions, including lethal fire and internet blackouts across towns like Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad. Asif’s hostile comments drew sharp criticism locally and internationally, with regional leaders demanding an immediate apology and human rights watchdogs condemning Islamabad’s brutal suppression of peaceful assembly. Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs slammed the Pakistani establishment’s stance as a desperate attempt to cover up its administrative failures and systemic human rights abuses in the illegally occupied territory. Despite rising casualties and widespread international condemnation, the Pakistani government maintains a unyielding posture as widespread strikes and civil disobedience continue to paralyse the region.