Pak Army Brutality in POK: 18 Killed in Drone and Rocket Attacks - Read Full Report Here

In the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or POK, the Pakistan military has crossed all limits of brutality and inhumanity by unleashing a massive violent crackdown on local civilians. In Rawalakot, a town located merely 41 kilometers away from the POK capital Muzaffarabad, troops loyal to Pakistan army chief Asim Munir wreaked immense havoc today, acting as if they had waged a full-fledged war against an independent foreign nation. Unarmed and peaceful local citizens who were protesting for their basic rights were targeted with direct drone bombings and heavy rocket launcher attacks, while due to this ruthless military aggression, the confirmed death toll of innocent people has now reached 18. This brutal assault has also claimed the lives of four minor children, sending shockwaves of grief and immense anger across the entire region. The oppressive actions of the Pakistani military have once again exposed the true face of the establishment to the world, where the voices of its own citizens are crushed using bullets and explosives.

Bloody and Calculated Attack at Rawalakot Bus Terminal

The tragic sequence of events began early this morning when hundreds of local residents had peacefully gathered at the main bus terminal in Rawalakot to demand their fundamental rights. Even before the protest could officially commence, Pakistani Rangers, who were sitting prepared in anticipation, launched a direct attack on the unarmed protesters using RPG-7 rockets. This sudden and intense rocket strike triggered immediate chaos at the location, forcing terrified citizens to run in panic to save their lives. However, showing zero restraint, the Pakistani military and rangers opened indiscriminate and direct gunfire on the fleeing unarmed civilians. The situation was so terrifying that people weren't even given the opportunity to retrieve the dead bodies of their loved ones. Those who attempted to lift and carry the severely injured individuals to safety were deliberately targeted by the soldiers and sprayed with bullets. Due to this extreme inhumanity, the injured couldn't receive timely medical assistance, and the death toll steadily mounted to include four innocent children.

Why Violence Erupts in POK and Demands of Protesters

Protests and simmering discontent have been continuously brewing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the past five months. Since June, general public members have been taking to the streets across various parts of POK to stage fierce demonstrations. The core reason behind these protests is the soaring inflation, widespread unemployment, and a massive pile of basic livelihood hardships in the region, while the Joint Awami Action Committee had given an official call for these protests, prompting thousands of ordinary people to march onto the streets and demand the government to reduce skyrocketing prices of subsidized wheat flour and essential food items. However, instead of listening to these legitimate and basic demands of the public, the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif resorted to oppressive authoritarian tactics. The Shehbaz Sharif administration arrested the core leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee and threw them behind bars. Plus, the government completely banned the Joint Awami Action Committee. When this suppression failed to pacify public anger, police forces were deployed to carry out brutal baton charges. Hundreds of ordinary citizens were arrested, which further escalated public resentment, while widespread protests erupted across the entire POK, and slogans demanding freedom from Pakistan began to echo among the demonstrators. Panicked by the fierce public mood and freedom slogans, Shehbaz Sharif ultimately deployed Asim Munir’s brutal military force onto the ground.

Fierce Drone and Rocket Attacks on Residential Areas

Initially, indiscriminate firing was carried out by the Pakistani military within the city of Muzaffarabad, but the unarmed and resilient people refused to be intimidated and their morale remained high. Subsequently, when freedom marches began erupting in other major cities of POK, the Pakistani military today turned Rawalakot into its primary target, showering bombs using drones on the demonstrators. Under the pretext of bringing the situation under control, the military utilized rocket launchers to launch direct and relentless attacks on the residential homes of ordinary citizens. These intense rocket strikes completely destroyed and reduced numerous residential houses to rubble. The intensity of the attacks was so severe that massive fires broke out in several neighborhoods, causing widespread chaos and terror throughout the city of Rawalakot. The Pakistani Rangers showed no mercy even to innocent and unarmed citizens fleeing toward safe havens, targeting them with relentless gunfire. A total of 18 deaths have been confirmed in this military action, while dozens of others have sustained critical injuries and are currently admitted to local hospitals in extremely serious conditions.

Serious Allegations by Citizens and Claims of Over 150 Deaths

Local residents of POK have leveled extremely grave and terrifying allegations against the Pakistani military and rangers. The local inhabitants clearly state that the Pakistani Rangers are carrying out brutal attacks specifically targeting the residential homes of local civilians as part of a well-calculated conspiracy. Innocent children and women standing outside or inside their homes are being directly shot without any hesitation, while local citizens and various organizations make the massive claim that during this bloody conflict and military suppression, the Pakistani Rangers have already put more than 150 innocent people to death. Although official confirmation stands at 18 deaths, the local death toll is reported to be much higher and deeply alarming. The people are forced to endure inhuman torture at the hands of their own country's military and rulers, while their voices are continuously suppressed on international forums.

Assassination of Two Policemen Protecting Polio Team

Just two days prior to this deeply shocking and bloody incident, another sensational crime was committed within Pakistan. Under the essential nationwide polio eradication campaign conducted in remote areas of Pakistan, unidentified attackers opened a barrage of gunfire on police officers deployed for the security of a polio vaccination team. In this sudden, cowardly, and fatal attack, both policemen lost their lives on the spot. Such recurring violent incidents and military brutality have once again proven that law and order have completely collapsed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other parts of the country, leaving the lives of ordinary citizens and security personnel completely unsafe, while the people of POK now desperately seek complete liberation from this military rule and tyranny of Pakistan, and their inner anger is intensifying with each passing day.