AJK Government Issues Travel Advisory Ahead of JAAC Protest, Urges Visitors to Leave
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government issued a travel advisory urging outsiders to avoid the region and current visitors to leave immediately.
- The advisory, effective June 5-20, precedes a major protest called for June 9 by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) over local grievances.
- Federal paramilitary troops have been deployed to the region to prevent a recurrence of past violence, as the JAAC protests the reservation of legislative seats for refugees.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has issued a strict travel advisory, urging all outsiders to avoid the region and instructing current visitors to leave immediately. This measure, effective from June 5 to June 20, comes in response to a significant protest planned for June 9 by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
The measure is advised to save intending visitors from any unexpected situation or inconvenience.
The JAAC, a civil society alliance, is spearheading a movement focused on local economic grievances and political rights. The upcoming strike centers on the contentious issue of 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. The JAAC alleges these seats are used by Pakistani political parties to influence government formation in Muzaffarabad.
An unnamed official spokesperson stated the advisory aims "to save intending visitors from any unexpected situation or inconvenience." The government also requested those already in the territory for tourism or other purposes to depart by Friday evening to avoid "any unpleasant situation." A guesthouse owner in Neelum Valley confirmed the administration's request, noting that guests were now seeking refunds.
The government also requests those already in the territory for sightseeing or any other purpose to leave by Friday evening so that they do not confront any unpleasant situation.
To prevent a repeat of past violence, which resulted in fatalities during clashes in May 2024 and September 2025, Islamabad has deployed federal paramilitary forces. The AJK Inspector General of Police formally requested 14,000 additional personnel to secure the territory. Video footage showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad, indicating reinforcements were already in place ahead of the planned strike.
Our foremost responsibility is to protect public and private life and property, and the police will act in accordance with their mandate.
Police officials have urged the public not to join any unrest or attack security forces, emphasizing that grievances should be pursued through democratic and peaceful means. However, a senior police officer indicated that the requisitioned force was significantly larger than 14,000, with additional requests sent for supplementary deployments.
I urge people not to join any mob seeking to create unrest or attack security forces. Anyone with grievances or demands should pursue them through democratic and peaceful means.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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