Internet access suddenly vanished in Azad Kashmir on 5 June 2026, as authorities moved to head off a planned 9 June blockade and wave of protests. Local officials framed the internet blackout as a security measure; Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said, ”This is the end of mob rule.” In South Asia, governments still often reach for the switch when street politics start to look inconvenient.
NetBlocks said connectivity ”practically disappeared” across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan-controlled territory that brands itself ”Free Kashmir.” The trigger was the government’s ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee, or JAAC, under anti-terrorism law – a move that turns a political dispute into a legal fight and makes it easier to justify an internet cutoff.
What JAAC is demanding
JAAC has been pressing for cheaper flour, lower electricity prices, and an end to reserved assembly seats for refugees. Those are bread-and-butter demands, which is exactly why they travel well and why authorities tend to fear them. When a protest movement is talking about food and power bills, it is not just waving a slogan around.
This is not the first clash between the group and the government. In 2025, similar demonstrations led to violence, deaths, and partial concessions, which only raised the stakes for both sides. Governments often hope a crackdown buys calm; more often, it just postpones the next round with extra anger attached.
Schools closed and tourists told to leave
Alongside the blackout, authorities tightened security, delayed classes in schools, and urged tourists to leave the region. That mix tells you the state is preparing for disruption, not dialogue. It also shows how quickly a telecom shutdown spills beyond activists and into ordinary life: work stops, travel gets messy, and rumors fill the void faster than any official statement can.
The question now is whether the blackout suppresses mobilization or simply hardens it before 9 June. If the past is any guide, restoring the network will not restore trust on its own.