Nationwide Protests Erupt in Response to Indian Threats

Across Pakistan, including in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), hundreds of citizens participated in demonstrations on Thursday. These protests were triggered by perceived Indian threats following a recent deadly attack on tourists near the contested border.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to aggressively pursue those responsible for the deaths of 26 civilians in Pahalgam earlier this week. He has accused Pakistan of providing support for “cross-border terrorism.”

The attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which targeted civilians instead of security personnel, represents a significant escalation and the deadliest such incident in the last 25 years.

Ajmal Baloch, a businessman, voiced his defiance stating, “If India desires war, they should openly engage.” He made this statement during a protest in Lahore, organized by a religious group and attended by approximately 700 individuals. The protest occurred near the primary border crossing between Pakistan and India.

India has mentioned potentially suspending the Indus Water Treaty, an arrangement critical for water sharing between the two nuclear-armed nations. However, there are doubts about their capacity to significantly restrict the river’s flow into Pakistan.

Baloch, along with other protestors, condemned this threat as “unacceptable.”

Muhammad Owais, a 25-year-old demonstrator, asserted, “Water is fundamentally our right, and we are determined to reclaim it, even if conflict is necessary. We will not concede.”
Around 300 individuals marched in Muzaffarabad, displaying signs with anti-India slogans.

Shoukat Javed Mir, a prominent figure within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the region, declared, “Should India err by launching an attack, Pakistani Kashmiris will stand as the first line of defense. We are prepared to sacrifice our lives for Pakistan.”

In Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, about 150 people participated in a demonstration.