Internet shutdown in Pakistan-administered Kashmir passes 100 days amid unrest

Internet access has been severely restricted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for more than 100 days, with mobile data and broadband services still suspended after protests over electoral reform began in June. The blackout has continued despite staggered elections and the formation of a new government, according to the supplied reporting. Residents have faced ongoing disruption to daily life as the communications restrictions remain in place.

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The shutdown began on June 5, when authorities imposed restrictions as unrest grew ahead of local elections originally scheduled for July 27. NetBlocks, an independent observer that monitors internet shutdowns, said the partial blackout has continued since that date. The unrest was linked to demands by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a grassroots umbrella organisation that authorities banned on June 5.

The territory later held elections in three rounds, with the final phase taking place on August 10. The disruption has affected banking, business activity and education. Access to websites and apps used for online banking remains unavailable, while the government has postponed entrance exams, according to the supplied material.

The blackout has also complicated the academic year for students and added to the strain on local commerce. The reporting says the shutdown has persisted even after the new government was formed. The case matters because Pakistan-administered Kashmir is a disputed region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, and its internal political arrangements have long been sensitive.

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It is governed under a semi-autonomous system with its own prime minister and legislative assembly. The assembly has 45 seats in total, including 12 reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir living elsewhere in Pakistan. Restrictions on communications in such a setting can affect not only public services but also political participation, business continuity and access to education.

The unrest escalated in the run-up to the elections, and the supplied reporting says authorities responded with a violent crackdown on protests. That unrest culminated in deadly clashes on July 27, the day originally set for voting. Residents and local estimates cited in the report say the death toll has surpassed 50, including seven law enforcement personnel, although those figures could not be independently verified.

The elections did not take place in some protest strongholds for security reasons. What remains unclear is when full internet access will be restored and whether the restrictions will be lifted in step with the political process. The supplied material does not say what specific conditions authorities have set for ending the blackout.

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