Internet shutdown, roadblocks disrupt daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

Photo: People check their phones as internet services remain disrupted in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on July 5, 2026. [Al Jazeera/EPA]. A prolonged internet shutdown and roadblocks linked to weeks of protests have disrupted healthcare, education, businesses and daily life across parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, as the region prepares for legislative elections.Mobile data and broadband services across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, commonly known as AJK, have been suspended since June 5, according to Al Jazeera on Friday. The disruption has been particularly severe in Poonch Division, where protests and sit-ins have continued after authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee, or JAAC. The coalition has campaigned on demands including the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees. Weeks of protests and clashes have resulted in deaths among demonstrators and law enforcement personnel, Al Jazeera reported. Residents told the news organization that the restrictions have affected access to healthcare, education, banking and businesses. Zaheer Iqbal, a construction worker from Poonch, said his family struggled to find fuel to take his brother to hospital after he suffered chest pain. The family eventually transferred him to a hospital in Islamabad, about 140 kilometers away. Students have also faced disruptions. Masood Khan, principal of a postgraduate college in Poonch, said an internet shutdown and unreliable mobile connectivity had delayed medical college entrance examinations for students across Pakistan. More than six weeks later, he said, the exams had yet to resume. Businesses have suffered as well. Malik Dawood, a printing business owner in Muzaffarabad, said the shutdown had severely damaged his business and estimated losses of 15 million to 20 million Pakistani rupees, equivalent to about $54,000 to $72,000. The disruption has also affected banking and electronic payments. Lawyer Usman Gul said he had been forced to borrow cash and postponed his wedding reception after road closures disrupted services and vendors. Government officials have disputed some accounts of the disruption. Deputy Commissioner Munir Qureshi told Al Jazeera that internet access remained available in some locations, including banks, and that road closures were limited to parts of Poonch Division. He said movement in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions remained unrestricted and election campaigning was continuing. The conflicting accounts reflect the uneven impact of the unrest across the region. While officials say life has largely returned to normal in many areas, residents in affected districts report prolonged restrictions and economic hardship. The disruption continues as elections approach, with the political dispute and restrictions still unresolved. The post Internet shutdown, roadblocks disrupt daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir appeared first on Khaama Press.