Large rally in PoK demands end to Pakistani control, border route reopening

A significant rally was held in Mandhol village in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, with over 25,000 participants voicing demands for major territorial and administrative changes. The gathering underscored simmering discontent within the region regarding current governance arrangements.

Sardar Aman Khan, a leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), spearheaded the demonstration and articulated the crowd's key demands. Protesters called for the removal of Pakistani control over the territory, elimination of the Line of Control (LoC), and the reopening of traditional routes connecting Poonch and Mendhar regions.

The Poonch-Mendhar route historically served as a vital commercial and social link between communities on both sides of the current border. Activists argue that reopening these passages would facilitate trade, enhance regional connectivity, and restore traditional economic relationships disrupted by the partition and subsequent border demarcation.

The rally represents one of the latest expressions of discontent in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, where various groups have periodically mobilized around questions of political autonomy, governance structures, and cross-border connectivity. Such demonstrations highlight the complex dynamics and competing aspirations within the disputed territory.