Pakistan links JAAC protests to India-funded foreign agenda

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has alleged that violent protests by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are being driven by militant elements pursuing a foreign agenda with Indian funding, as the government moves to restore order following the first phase of regional elections.

Speaking on Tuesday, Tarar maintained that while the recent elections in the Mirpur division were peaceful and transparent, the banned outfit could not accept the democratic process and resorted to violence. He noted that the people of Kashmir had given a “spectacular response” to the elections, with 600,000 votes cast in Rawalakot alone.

Tarar claimed that investigators have uncovered irrefutable evidence linking the JAAC’s social media campaign to India. Security agencies recently arrested a digital marketing services provider whose payment trails were traced to Indian gateways. According to the minister, an entire misinformation network was operating through bot farms to spread anti-state content targeting Pakistan’s sovereignty, government institutions, and armed forces. The investigation also recovered WhatsApp conversations between the arrested suspect and an Indian operator discussing payments and content amplification. “The investigation found that the entire misinformation network was operating through bot farms,” Tarar stated, adding that forensic analysis identified India-based accounts even when VPNs were used.

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry emphasized that the government had accepted 37 out of 38 JAAC demands, with only the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly remaining unresolved due to constitutional complexities. “Thirty-seven out of 38 JAAC demands were accepted, and the government of Pakistan fully cooperated with them,” Chaudhry said. He noted that the movement was not about securing rights but about “snatching” the rights of AJK people. The minister questioned the timing of the protests, noting that JAAC initially tried to stop the election schedule in AJK. “When they failed, JAAC members started long marches, sit-ins, strikes, blocked roads and disrupted activities across the region,” he added.

The AJK government has declared JAAC a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and authorities have announced a Rs10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of four wanted JAAC leaders. Officials allege that armed members of the group have engaged in violence, resulting in injuries to police personnel. The federal government has assured full support to AJK authorities in maintaining law and order.