Rawalakot: With Pakistan continuing its siege on occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) made a direct appeal to India for humanitarian assistance, urging New Delhi to send medicines and other essential supplies.
JAAC leader Sardar Aman appealed to India to provide rations and medical supplies to people in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), alleging that the Pakistani administration had imposed an economic blockade following a sweeping crackdown on the protest movement, as reported by News18.
“We need India’s help,” Aman said, claiming that residents were facing shortages of food and medicines as security forces intensified operations against protesters.
He also called for the Line of Control (LoC) to be opened, arguing that civilians should be allowed to cross into India if conditions deteriorate further.
“If Pakistan opens fire, we have the option to cross the border,” Aman said, while urging India to intervene on humanitarian grounds.
Aman also urged the abolition of the LoC in the Poonch and Doda sectors, saying the current restrictions were worsening the hardships faced by people living in the region.
The situation in PoJK is worsening with people staging large scale protests against the Pakistani administration. The government has retaliated by sending in a large number of security forces who have been accused of firing on unarmed demonstrators.
Trouble escalated after the local administration banned the JAAC under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Security forces subsequently launched a crackdown, with more than 600 workers and senior political leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, reportedly arrested and placed on watchlists.
Protesters and local activists have alleged that Pakistani authorities have imposed an artificial economic blockade, disrupting the supply of essential medicines, flour and other food items to several towns across the region.
