UK Kashmiri Groups Condemn Pakistan’s Crackdown in Rawalakot, Call for International Attention

Bradford, UK – Protesters and community leaders from the Kashmiri diaspora gathered on June 19 to denounce the security operation unfolding in Rawalakot and surrounding areas of Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The demonstrators, organized by local Kashmiri activist networks, cited reports of arrests, curfews and alleged human‑rights violations that have intensified a wave of unrest across the region.

Speakers highlighted the impact of the crackdown on civilians, noting that schools and markets have been disrupted and families are living under heightened fear. While the Pakistani authorities have framed the measures as a response to separatist militancy, the diaspora groups argue that the tactics amount to collective punishment and call for an independent inquiry.

The gathering in Bradford, a city with a sizable South‑Asian population, underscored the transnational dimension of the conflict. Participants urged the UK government and international bodies to pressure both Pakistan and India to uphold humanitarian standards and to facilitate dialogue that could de‑escalate tensions.

The protest reflects growing solidarity among overseas Kashmiris, who are using their platforms to amplify calls for accountability and to remind the global community that the conflict’s repercussions extend far beyond the subcontinent.