Internet access has been severely restricted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for more than 100 days, with mobile data and broadband services suspended since protests over electoral reform erupted in early June.
The partial shutdown has continued despite staggered elections, the formation of a new government and the end of voting on August 10, disrupting online services and education across the territory.
What triggered the protests
The unrest began ahead of local elections scheduled for July 27. On June 5, authorities banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, or JKJAAC, a grassroots umbrella organisation that called for the removal of 12 reserved legislative seats for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir who live elsewhere in Pakistan.
Authorities imposed the internet shutdown on June 5 and cracked down on protests. Deadly clashes followed on July 27, while voting was cancelled in some protest strongholds for security reasons.
What we know now
- Websites and apps used for online banking remain unavailable.
- Business activity has been disrupted across the region.
- The government postponed entrance exams, affecting the academic year for students.
- The shutdown has been monitored since June 5 by NetBlocks, an independent internet-observing organisation.
How the election process unfolded
Staggered elections were held in three rounds in response to the unrest, with the final phase taking place on August 10. A new government was formed from results in the rest of the autonomous region, even though voting did not take place in certain areas.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir is a disputed region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan. It operates under a semi-autonomous system with its own prime minister and a 45-seat legislative assembly, including the 12 reserved seats at the centre of the dispute. Read the context: Claims of Deadly Crackdown on Unarmed Protesters in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.
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