As anti-government protests continue to intensify across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Sardar Aman Khan has made a public appeal to India for humanitarian assistance, alleging that Pakistan's ongoing crackdown has plunged the region into a deep humanitarian crisis.
In a video that has been widely circulated on social media, though not independently verified, Khan claimed that residents of PoK were facing severe shortages of food and essential supplies due to the prolonged unrest and security operations. Appealing directly to New Delhi, he urged India to extend humanitarian support to the people of the region.
"We need India's help. There is a shortage of rations... and we need your help," Khan said in the video.
Addressing a large gathering at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, Khan also demanded that the Line of Control (LoC) be opened, arguing that civilians should have the option of crossing into India if conditions continue to deteriorate.
Seeking a response from the crowd, Khan asked whether people should march towards the LoC, to which the gathering repeatedly replied, "Move towards it."
He specifically called for opening crossing points in the Poonch and Doda sectors, saying that Pakistan's actions had made life increasingly difficult for ordinary residents. Warning the authorities against suppressing protests through force, Khan said that if people's demands were met with bullets, "we also have other paths."
In a separate video message released a day later, the JAAC leader expanded his appeal beyond PoK, urging people across the wider Jammu and Kashmir region—including Srinagar, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Ladakh, Kargil and Gilgit-Baltistan—to remain aware of what he described as sustained oppression in PoK over the past month.
The latest appeal comes amid continuing demonstrations across PoK that began over economic grievances, rising prices and governance issues but have increasingly evolved into a broader political movement.
At a major rally held last week, protesters reportedly raised slogans such as "PoK is not part of Pakistan" and "We want freedom," signalling growing dissatisfaction with Islamabad's administration of the region.
The protests have gathered momentum in recent weeks following reports of arrests, security operations and restrictions imposed on demonstrators.
Tensions escalated after Pakistani authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee on June 5, designating the grassroots organisation as a "terrorist" group.
Following the ban, security forces launched an extensive crackdown on activists and protesters, leading to multiple arrests and intensified security measures. Critics argue that the government's actions have further fuelled public resentment rather than restoring order.
Observers say the ongoing unrest reflects widening discontent among PoK residents, many of whom have long accused the region's political administration of operating under Islamabad's influence. The continuing protests have highlighted growing demands for greater political rights, accountability and relief from economic hardships, while the latest appeal by JAAC leaders has drawn fresh attention to the evolving situation in the region.
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