At least nine people were killed in separate clashes between security forces and protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, as tensions mounted ahead of a planned protest march towards the regional capital, Muzaffarabad.

The violence erupted in two districts amid an ongoing protest movement led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group banned under Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws in early June.

In Poonch district, security forces raided a house near Rawalakot after receiving intelligence about an alleged weapons cache. Officials said they came under fire during the operation, leaving one security officer dead.

In a separate incident in Sudhnoti district, clashes broke out after protesters blocked a security convoy. Authorities said the convoy was attacked with stones and gunfire, prompting security personnel to respond in self-defence. Seven protesters and one police officer were killed, while several others were injured.

According to Al Jazeera, the latest violence has brought the death toll from the ongoing unrest to at least 28 since protests began on June 4, with another 79 people injured. The demonstrations are rooted in a long-running political dispute over representation in the region's legislative assembly.

The protest movement centres on 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan after the partition of British India in 1947 and now reside outside the territory. The JAAC argues that the arrangement enables Pakistan-based political parties to influence the region's politics while diverting development resources intended for local residents.

Last month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir ruled that the reserved seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment, a verdict that further intensified the protests. Regional elections are scheduled for July 27.

Despite announcing plans to begin a march towards Muzaffarabad on Wednesday afternoon, protesters remained gathered in Rawalakot, where authorities estimated the crowd at between 3,000 and 4,000 people. Officials said no major violence was reported during the day.

The government has imposed restrictions on internet and mobile phone services across parts of the region, citing security concerns. Authorities have also deployed around 4,000 police and paramilitary personnel ahead of the planned march.

Officials said protesters would not be permitted to travel through Rawalakot on the main route to Muzaffarabad and would instead have to use alternative mountain paths if they continued their march.

BOB Post