The Action Committee and Revolution in Azad Kashmir
By Dr Shabir Choudhry, 26 July 2026, London.
The Action Committee was not established to bring about a revolution in Azad Kashmir or to set up a revolutionary government. Its purpose was to address the everyday problems faced by the people, particularly the issues of flour prices and electricity. Over time, its agenda expanded, but it was never about the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution Act of 1974 or the Karachi Agreement. It was not about ending the monopoly of non-local officials or challenging the role of the secret agencies. It was not about establishing a State Bank or an independent national electricity grid for Azad Kashmir. Nor was it about ending Pakistan's control over our natural resources.
If I may say so without offending, the movement did not object to Pakistan's occupation. It did not challenge Pakistan's exploitation of Azad Kashmir's resources. The demand was merely that more people should be allowed to wield the stick, not that the stick itself should disappear. In other words, the demand was simply for some relief in certain matters.
That is not called a revolution.
Therefore, please do not raise slogans about an imminent revolution. Do not mislead the people in the name of revolution. Tell them honestly that your objective is to secure some basic human rights and economic relief, and that revolution is not part of your programme.
If, however, the objective truly is to bring about a revolution, then the so-called Azad Kashmir Assembly, which functions under Pakistan's control, would have to reject that control. An independent declaration would have to be made, and all agreements with Pakistan would have to be terminated.
That is the path of revolution.
Revolutions demand sacrifice. They require people to endure hardship, and sometimes they demand blood.
I am not suggesting that the people of Azad Kashmir have not suffered, or that they have not shed blood. Our people have faced bullets with their bare chests and have made immense sacrifices. But those sacrifices were not made for a revolution.
The Present Crisis
This does not mean that the people of Azad Kashmir have not suffered. On the contrary, they have paid an enormous price for demanding justice and fundamental rights.
Since 5 June 2026, according to reports from political activists and local sources, Azad Kashmir has faced an unprecedented crackdown. Communications have been severely disrupted, with internet services suspended. Restrictions have been imposed on the movement of essential goods, including food and medicines, causing hardship for ordinary people.
It has also been alleged that more than 50 people have been killed during the crackdown. Families claim that, in several cases, the bodies of those killed were not returned to them for burial, adding further grief and anguish.
The leadership of the Action Committee has reportedly been branded as "Indian agents" and "traitors," while many of those expressing support for the movement have faced similar accusations. Such labels have long been used to silence political dissent rather than to engage with legitimate grievances.
Reports further suggest that rewards of Rs. 10 million for each leader (one crore rupees ) have been announced for the arrest of four prominent leaders of the movement. This represents an alarming escalation in the state's response to peaceful political activism.
Hundreds of people are also reported to have been detained or forcibly disappeared, with relatives claiming they have received no information about where their loved ones are being held or under what legal authority they have been arrested. At the same time, criminal cases (FIRs) have reportedly been registered against hundreds of activists and ordinary citizens.
If these reports are accurate, they raise profound questions about the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of association, due process, and the right to peaceful political activity.
Nevertheless, despite this suffering and repression, it is important to distinguish between a movement seeking economic relief and basic human rights and a movement seeking revolutionary political change. The courage and sacrifice of the people deserve recognition in their own right, without attaching slogans or objectives that were never part of the movement's declared programme.
