MEA calls for Pakistan to be held accountable over human rights violations in PoJK

12/08/2026

NEW DELHI, Aug 11: India on Tuesday called upon the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for alleged gross human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), with the Ministry of External Affairs saying that public discontent in the region had been met with repression and force.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to questions at a media briefing on the situation in Pakistan and Balochistan, said India was closely following developments in PoJK and other parts of the neighbouring country.
"In the last several months we have seen that during the elections and before that also large-scale protests were held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Public discontent was answered with bullets and blackouts and repression and oppression, and many people have been killed; in fact, more than 90 people have been killed, and many more have been injured," Jaiswal said.
He said the developments in PoJK once again highlighted Pakistan's shortcomings in guaranteeing human rights to its people.
"There are two things. Many incidents keep happening around the world, and we keep a very keen and close eye on all these developments. At the same time, I also want to tell you that the violation of human rights, one aspect of which we just saw in Pakistan, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the way human rights were violated there in recent months and how people were killed, once again highlights that when it comes to human rights and guaranteeing those rights to people, Pakistan has a lot to do," he said.
Jaiswal said the international community should take note of the situation and hold Pakistan accountable for the deaths reported during the recent violence.
"We believe that the international community should hold Pakistan accountable for the deaths of so many people in the recent violence," he said.
The MEA spokesperson also called upon the international community to take note of what he described as "misdeeds", "abuses" and "flagrant violation or gross violation of human rights" in Pakistan.
"We call upon the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds, for its abuses and for flagrant violation or gross violation of human rights, including of all its people," Jaiswal said.
His remarks came amid continuing unrest in PoJK, where protests have been reported during the ongoing legislative election process. The situation has been marked by clashes, allegations of excessive use of force, deaths and injuries, as well as disruptions to polling in parts of the region.
According to reports, the 2026 legislative elections in PoJK are being conducted in phases. Polling for constituencies in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions was held on July 27 and August 2, while voting in parts of the Poonch division faced disruptions amid continuing unrest, security concerns, road closures and an internet shutdown.
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has also been leading protests in the region over issues including the controversial refugee seats in the legislative assembly. The group has alleged interference by Pakistan's establishment in the political process.
Jaiswal said the developments had attracted international attention and reiterated India's call for accountability.
"This has made news across the world. There have been mass violations, grave violations of human rights, and I think it is time that the international community take note of what's happening there and hold that country responsible for its atrocities," he said.
The MEA spokesperson's remarks also came amid renewed attention to the situation in Balochistan, where separatist groups observed August 11 as Balochistan Independence Day and raised demands for greater international attention to the region.
India has consistently maintained that human rights must be respected and protected and that accountability should follow allegations of serious violations.

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