JKHRO Urges Immediate International Preventive Action as Long March Towards Muzaffarabad Resumes Amid Escalating Human Rights Concerns
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO) issues an urgent appeal to the United Nations, international human rights organisations, diplomatic missions, humanitarian agencies, governments and the international media to act immediately to protect human life in Rawalakot and along the route of the resumed Long March towards Muzaffarabad. The Security Forces have started a crackdown against peaceful Long March participants; initial reports and eyewitness accounts suggest 3 people have been shot in the head and over 20 injured by security forces firing and shelling since 4:00 pm local time today.
Thousands gathered in Rawalakot on 27 July before beginning the march towards Muzaffarabad. International reporting states that more than 45 people have reportedly been killed and hundreds injured since the unrest began in June. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) estimates that more than 100,000 people may now be participating in, travelling towards or supporting the Long March. This estimate, any new casualty figures and reports of current security operations require urgent independent verification because communications services remain severely restricted and independent access is limited.
“This is the moment for prevention, not reaction. The international community must not wait for images of mass casualties before demanding restraint, humanitarian access and independent monitoring.”
An Immediate and Foreseeable Risk to Civilian Life
The JKJAAC-led Long March originally began on 9 June and paused near Rawalakot on 10 June, becoming a prolonged peaceful sit-in at Dharake Eidgah Ground. JKJAAC states that the pause allowed time for humanitarian de-escalation and negotiations. After talks through intermediaries reportedly stalled, the march resumed on the afternoon of 27 July. JKJAAC has reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful, democratic and non-violent action.
Reports reaching the JKJAAC Advisory Council allege that security forces have begun, or are preparing, operations against participants. The precise operational situation cannot be independently confirmed because internet and telecommunications remain severely restricted and independent media access is limited. These conditions create a serious risk of confrontation, misinformation, delayed medical response and large-scale civilian harm.
· A very large civilian gathering is moving towards Muzaffarabad.
· Security forces are reportedly deployed along or near the route.
· Communications restrictions impede emergency coordination and independent verification.
· Ambulance, medical and humanitarian access may be obstructed.
· Rumours and manipulated content can spread rapidly in an information vacuum.
· Children, older persons, pregnant women, patients and persons with disabilities may be present among participants and supporting communities.
Immediate Appeal to Pakistan and AJK Authorities
1. Prohibit immediately the use of live ammunition against peaceful participants.
2. Exercise maximum restraint and avoid direct confrontation with unarmed civilians.
3. Issue clear and publicly communicated rules of engagement consistent with legality, necessity and proportionality.
4. Establish protected routes for ambulances, doctors, medicines, food, water and essential supplies.
5. Restore internet, mobile telephone and public communications without delay.
6. Permit Pakistani and international journalists, lawyers, medical teams, humanitarian personnel and human rights observers to enter Rawalakot and the march route.
7. Disclose the identity, location, health condition and legal status of every detained or missing person.
8. Allow immediate family, legal and medical access to every person in custody.
9. Guarantee that peaceful participants, organisers, journalists, doctors and witnesses will not face arbitrary arrest, disappearance or retaliation.
10. Preserve all police, hospital, CCTV, telecommunications, drone, deployment, ammunition and digital evidence.
11. Release any withheld human remains immediately and without coercive conditions so families can conduct dignified funeral and burial rites.
12. Return urgently to negotiations through representatives possessing clear and written decision-making authority.
The authorities have a duty to protect public safety. That duty must be discharged through communication, facilitation, de-escalation and negotiation, not through indiscriminate or disproportionate force.
Urgent Request for United Nations Preventive Action
JKHRO supports the JKJAAC appeal for immediate engagement by the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan and relevant UN Special Procedures, including mandates concerning peaceful assembly, extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, expression, human rights defenders, health and disability rights.
· Issue an immediate public appeal for restraint, non-violence and civilian protection.
· Seek direct assurances that live ammunition and excessive force will not be used against peaceful demonstrators.
· Request immediate access to Rawalakot and the march route for independent human rights observers, humanitarian personnel and medical teams.
· Establish or support an independent incident-verification and fact-finding mechanism.
· Press for immediate restoration of internet and telecommunications services.
· Seek disclosure of every detention location and access for families, lawyers and doctors.
· Request protected humanitarian routes for ambulances, hospitals, food, water and medicines.
· Offer urgent good offices or neutral facilitation to restore credible, time-bound negotiations.
· Report publicly on compliance, denial of access or any failure to protect civilians.
“This is not a request for military intervention. It is a request for preventive diplomacy, civilian protection, human rights monitoring, humanitarian access, independent verification and neutral facilitation before further lives are lost.”
Appeal to Long March Participants and Organisers
· Remain peaceful, unarmed and disciplined.
· Do not approach, surround or push against security lines.
· Refuse provocation and reject every act of violence.
· Do not damage public or private property.
· Keep emergency lanes open for ambulances and humanitarian vehicles.
· Assist children, pregnant women, older persons, persons with disabilities and medically vulnerable participants to move away from potential confrontation points.
· Follow only instructions issued by clearly identified organisers.
· Document incidents responsibly without obstructing emergency services.
· Do not share unverified casualty figures, locations or operational rumours.
· Report any weapons, incitement or suspicious activity immediately to designated stewards.
“No march objective is more important than protecting human life. Peaceful discipline is both a moral duty and the strongest protection against escalation.”
Appeal to International and Pakistani Media
The communications blackout and restrictions on journalistic access must not be allowed to create an information vacuum. JKHRO urges news organisations to:
· Seek immediate access to Rawalakot and the march route.
· Assign specialist verification and open-source investigation teams.
· Obtain information from hospitals, families, lawyers, organisers and authorities.
· Authenticate videos, photographs, timestamps and locations before publication.
· Distinguish clearly between verified, reported, under verification and unknown information.
· Protect vulnerable witnesses and confidential sources.
· Request official deployment, casualty, hospital and detention information.
· Report the positions and evidence of all parties fairly.
· Maintain continuous monitoring until communications and independent access are restored.
The JKJAAC appeal warns that fabricated and AI-generated content has been falsely linked to the unrest. Editors should not allow manipulated material to discredit genuine evidence or inflame tensions.
Appeal to Foreign Governments and Diplomatic Missions
· Seek immediate assurances regarding civilian safety and restraint.
· Press for compliance with international standards governing the use of force.
· Request restoration of communications and humanitarian access.
· Establish contact with hospitals and local humanitarian actors.
· Provide consular support to affected foreign nationals.
· Seek access to any detained, injured or missing foreign national.
· Support independent monitoring and investigation.
· Encourage urgent, credible and time-bound negotiations.
The Red Line Must Be Human Life
JKHRO recognises that current participation estimates, operational developments and reports of any new deaths, injuries or detentions cannot yet be independently verified. That uncertainty is not a reason for inaction. It is a reason to restore communications, permit independent access and deploy preventive diplomacy immediately.
The risk is clear. The gathering is large. Tensions are high. Communications are restricted. Earlier violence has already caused substantial loss of life.
NO MORE BLOODSHED.
NO LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST PEACEFUL CIVILIANS.
NO INFORMATION BLACKOUT.
NO DETENTION OR DISAPPEARANCE WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
PROTECT HUMAN LIFE. RESTORE COMMUNICATIONS. OPEN HUMANITARIAN ROUTES. RESUME NEGOTIATIONS NOW.
The international community must not wait for mass civilian casualties before acting.
Issued for immediate international media, diplomatic, humanitarian and human-rights circulation
Issued By
Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory — JKHRO
In support of the urgent civilian-protection appeal issued by the Advisory Council of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee — JKJAAC
