1) Pakistan’s establishment/Army has often relied on force instead of law or persuasion when dealing with dissent.
2) The current regime is among the worst in Pakistan’s history in terms of human rights and civil liberties. It is difficult to feel sympathy for its conduct.
3) People in Azad Kashmir are protesting against their own government and administrative setup, not against Pakistan or its people. So vilifying them collectively is both unfair and unwarranted.
4) Many of their demands are reasonable, justified, and open to negotiation.
5) The use of force against protesters, and the routine branding of dissenters as foreign agents, is highly condemnable.
6) At the same time, Kashmiris are among the most privileged groups in Pakistan in terms of legal rights, quotas, and opportunities.
7) Political protest is legitimate, but violence, coercion, and pressure tactics in the name of rights are not acceptable.
8) The level of misinformation and propaganda coming from JAAC is striking.. It weakens their own case and harms the broader Kashmiri cause.
