Pakistan Uses Lethal Force Against PoK Protesters: 90 Civilians Dead, India Condemns

The PoK unrest originated from legitimate economic grievances—unaffordable electricity tariffs reaching 2,200 PKR per month in a region with low incomes, chronic inflation eroding purchasing power, and widespread perception that elections had been rigged to ensure Pakistan's preferred political outcomes. As protests intensified, Pakistan's military and paramilitary forces allegedly deployed indiscriminate violence including shooting at unarmed civilians, resulting in the reported 90 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Pakistan's simultaneous imposition of communications blackouts—shutting down mobile networks and internet—prevents documentation and international media coverage, complicating casualty verification. The MEA's statement represents India's formal position that these actions violate international humanitarian law and constitute crimes against humanity. India has called for UN scrutiny, echoing concerns raised by international human rights organizations. The violence particularly targets Shia-majority areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.

For UPSC candidates, this reflects India's human rights advocacy position and strategic communication regarding PoK, an area India considers disputed territory. Expect questions on India-Pakistan relations, UN mechanisms for accountability, international humanitarian law, and India's diplomatic responses. This also illustrates how India leverages multilateral platforms to counter Pakistan's narrative and highlights the persistent instability in PoK despite Pakistan's claims of development.