Capital of Azad Kashmir; strategic confluence of Jhelum and Neelum rivers
Polling is under way in four PK-administered Kashmir constituencies as security is tightened. The JAAC boycott persists, while PML-N is expected to lead the regional government after securing a majority in earlier phases; violence and protests have marked the campaign.
Clashes in Rawalakot have left multiple dead and wounded after the Supreme Court upheld protections for 12 refugee seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s assembly. Authorities have banned JAAC and suspended internet, while protests plan a march to Muzaffarabad.
A Russian-built Mi-17 helicopter crashed on takeoff near Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing 22 military personnel including officers. An inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause as protests and security operations unfold in the region.
Protests linked to the JAAC have escalated as elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir proceed in three phases amid a nationwide crackdown. Officials report clashes and casualties, while JAAC demands political reform and abolition of reserved refugee seats. International observers call for access and transparency as media restrictions intensify.
Pakistan’s Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 have been issued, requiring accreditation and travel clearance for reporting outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Rights groups call the move a restriction on press freedom; the government says it provides a transparent framework for registration and reporting.