'Ye Jo Dehshat-Gardi Hai...': Thousands Protest In London Against Pakistan Army Crackdown In PoK

Last Updated:July 08, 2026, 11:20 IST

Members of Sindhi, Baloch and Pashtun groups also joined the march in a show of solidarity, alleging that Pakistan's military establishment had committed rights abuses.

Thousands of members of the British-Kashmiri diaspora gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in London over the weekend in what organisers described as the largest protest by overseas Kashmiris in the UK’s history. The demonstration, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and supported by diaspora groups, was aimed at condemning Pakistan’s ongoing crackdown on activists and civilians in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The protest came against the backdrop of escalating unrest in PoK following the arrest of JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir and hundreds of activists in recent weeks. JAAC has accused the Pakistani administration of using mass arrests, internet shutdowns and security operations to suppress dissent after the organisation was declared a banned outfit. The movement has also been demanding greater political rights and opposing the constitutional arrangement that reserves 12 legislative seats for refugees living in mainland Pakistan, arguing that it dilutes the political voice of local residents.

Videos and images shared from the London march showed protesters chanting slogans such as “Ye jo dehshat-gardi hai, is ke peeche wardi hai" (“The terror you see is backed by the uniform"), directly targeting the Pakistan Army. Demonstrators also raised slogans against Pakistan’s military leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, while carrying placards alleging human rights violations in PoK.

The rally saw participation beyond the Kashmiri community. Members of Sindhi, Baloch and Pashtun groups joined the march in a show of solidarity, alleging that Pakistan’s military establishment had committed rights abuses in their respective regions as well. Supporters of the MQM-London faction, associated with Altaf Hussain, were also present, underscoring the convergence of multiple groups critical of Pakistan’s military establishment.

The London demonstration followed calls from JAAC leaders urging overseas Kashmiris to internationalise the movement after authorities intensified their crackdown in PoK. Protest organisers claimed the march was intended to draw global attention to what they described as political repression, restrictions on civil liberties and the detention of political activists.

The overseas mobilisation comes as protests continue across several towns in PoK, where thousands have taken to the streets demanding the release of detained leaders and an end to what they describe as heavy-handed measures by Pakistani authorities. Reports from the region have alleged the use of force by security personnel against demonstrators, further fuelling public anger and extending the movement beyond Pakistan’s borders.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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