Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party secretary
Protesters assembled outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford on 26 August. Organised by the Friends of Joint Awami Action Committee Bradford, it was in response to a call for further protests by JAAC in Kashmir. JAAC continue to hold a mass sit-in in Rawalakot, the third largest city in Pakistan-controlled ‘Azad Kashmir’.
The Pakistan state has attempted to press ahead with elections, which include the reserved seats for people from Indian-controlled Kashmir living in Pakistan. JAAC wants these reserved seats abolished, as part of its demands on the cost of living and democratic rights.
Voter turnout is down from over 60% in 2021 to below 50% today. Voting has been postponed entirely in some areas.
JAAC has called for a boycott of these elections. It would say that these ballot boxes would have been stuffed to get even this result.
Shutdowns of markets and transport have been lifted in some other cities in Kashmir. But food and medicine supplies are still being blocked from reaching Rawalakot, and the internet remains blocked across Azad Kashmir.
Additional Pakistani army units were being deployed to Kashmir with clashes on 25 August, leading to another protester being killed, adding to the official tally of 80. This horrific number could be much larger given that protesters have set up their own clinics after protesters had been abducted from hospitals earlier in the protests.
In Bradford, placards depicted some of those killed by the armed forces.
The main message from protesters here demanded an end to repression against peaceful protesters and release of those arrested. This was reflected in chants of ‘Killer forces, out, out’ and ‘Stop killing in Kashmir’.
I spoke on behalf of the Socialist Party at the protest, extending our solidarity, and pointing to the need to link up with workers across the subcontinent, who have been involved in their own protests against the cost of living.
Only by the working masses taking control of the resources of the region, under democratic workers’ control, can the needs of ordinary people be met, and their right to self-determination guaranteed.
