The crumbling facade of ‘Azad Kashmir’: Economic desparation turns into rebellion against Pak government

What began as protests over soaring utility bills and basic living costs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has rapidly morphed into one of the gravest challenges to the political fiction of “Azad Kashmir” and the authority of the Pakistani state. Violent clashes swept across multiple districts of PoK, with 12 people dead and more than 200 injured till now in the security forces' crackdown on protests over the last three days..

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