The Azad Kashmir Rights Movement 2025: A Call for Human Rights and Dialogue

A Region at a Crossroads

Azad Kashmir has always been a land of beauty and resilience, yet today it is witnessing one of the largest waves of demonstrations in its history. From Muzaffarabad to the valleys and towns, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets demanding dignity, economic justice, and political reform.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) has raised a 38-point charter of demands. These demands speak of everyday hardships, soaring prices of food and electricity, lack of economic opportunity, and frustration with privileges granted to elites while ordinary families struggle to survive.

At the heart of this movement is not politics, but the basic human desire for justice and fairness.

The Right to Protest: A Human Right

Every Kashmiri has the right to raise his voice peacefully. History shows us that protest has always been the way ordinary people call for change when other doors are closed.

Yet in times of tension, this right is fragile. Clashes have already taken lives in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Chakswari and other parts of Azad Kashmir. That is why we call on the government and security forces to exercise restraint. Violence and suppression will only deepen wounds and push communities further into despair.

And equally, we call on protesters to remain peaceful. Violence or destruction of property risks weakening the very cause for which they march. Discipline and dignity are the greatest strengths of this movement.

A Humanitarian Crisis Beneath the Surface

While the media speaks of protests and charters, the reality for many Kashmiri families is even simpler: they cannot afford basic survival.

• The price of wheat flour and electricity has forced families into hunger.
• Unemployment pushes young men to the streets, not out of choice but necessity.
• Widows and orphans are left without safety nets.
• Rural families walk miles for clean water.

These are not abstract issues. They are the reasons why the streets are full.

At Kashmir Welfare Foundation, we see this crisis every day. A food pack can sustain a family for a month. A clean water well can serve generations. A sponsored orphan can step out of poverty through education. These are not luxuries. They are lifelines. And we have seen the number of our service users grow over the last few years as this crisis deepens.

This is why the diaspora’s support is so vital right now. While negotiations continue, people still need food, medicine, and hope.

Dialogue: The Only Way Forward

The deadlock between protesters and government cannot continue. Dialogue is the only path forward.

The people of Azad Kashmir deserve to be heard, but they also deserve peace. The government has the responsibility to protect lives, but also the responsibility to listen.

We call on leaders in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan to:

1. Sit with the representatives of the movement and hear their demands sincerely.
2. Address the economic hardships that drive frustration. Subsidies on flour, electricity, and essential goods can provide immediate relief.
3. Respect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that security measures do not silence ordinary citizens.

And we call on the protesters:

1. Remain peaceful and disciplined. Your cause is just, but its strength lies in non-violence.
2. Do not damage property or clash with others. Riots will only turn allies into critics.
3. Show unity and patience. Change takes time, but dignity is preserved when the struggle is peaceful.

The Role of the Diaspora

For Kashmiris in the UK and abroad, these images of streets filled with demonstrators strike deep. They remind us of our parents and grandparents who once stood for justice in Kashmir, and of our responsibility to support those still living in hardship.

True solidarity goes beyond sympathy. It means standing with Kashmiris not just in words but in action.

For every protester on the street, there is a family at home wondering how they will eat tomorrow. The diaspora has the chance to answer that question with hope.

The Way Ahead: Peace, Rights, and Humanity

The Azad Kashmir Rights Movement of 2025 will be remembered in history. Whether it is remembered as a moment of tragedy or as a turning point for justice depends on what happens now.

The world is watching. The diaspora is watching. And above all, the children of Kashmir are watching.

Let this be a moment where restraint, wisdom, and compassion win. Let this be the moment where dialogue triumphs over violence, and where the human rights of Kashmiris are recognised not as political bargaining chips but as God-given rights.

Call to Action

The people of Azad Kashmir need you. While they stand for justice, you can stand for them with your support.

Give your Zakat, Sadaqah, or Regular Giving today through Kashmir Welfare Foundation, and strengthen the resilience of families who are caught in the middle of unrest. Support the Emergency Relief Campaign to provide food, water, and aid directly where it is needed most.

FAQs

1. Why are people protesting in Azad Kashmir in 2025?
The protests began over economic hardships such as high prices of flour and electricity, and expanded to include a 38-point list of demands for political and structural reforms put together by the Awami Action Committee.

2. What is the role of the government during these protests?
The government has a duty to protect lives, ensure order, and address the demands of citizens through dialogue. Violence and suppression risk escalating the crisis.

3. How can protests remain peaceful?
By avoiding damage to property, refusing to riot, and maintaining discipline. Peaceful protest strengthens the cause and encourages negotiations. Azad Kashmir is a fragile place, and therefore any protests carried out must be peaceful.

4. What is Kashmir Welfare Foundation doing during this unrest?
Kashmir Welfare Foundation continues to provide humanitarian aid such as food packs, medical support, and emergency relief to families impacted by unrest. Our Ambulance is active on the ground moving patients to hospitals and ensuring emergency treatment can be provided to those in need.