On August 2, 2026, people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir voted in the second round of regional elections. But many stayed away. Activists called for a boycott, and businesses shut down in towns across the region, including the capital, Muzaffarabad. A final round of voting is set for August 10.

These elections are taking place during a difficult time. Since early June, the internet has been partly shut off. Residents say more than 50 people have died in protests.

The protests are led by a group called the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, or JAAC. It is a coalition — meaning several groups joined together. On June 5, 2026, the government banned JAAC under local law.

JAAC's main demand is to remove 12 special seats in the region's lawmaking body. These seats are set aside for Kashmiri refugees who left the region after 1947 and now live elsewhere in Pakistan. Six seats go to refugees from the Kashmir Valley, and six to refugees from other parts of the former princely state, according to Dawn. JAAC says these seats let Pakistan-based political parties interfere in the region's affairs and take away development money meant for local people. Talks between JAAC and the government fell apart in late May.

To understand the dispute, it helps to know a bit about the region. Pakistan-administered Kashmir has two parts: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. AJK has its own elected assembly, but it is not a full province of Pakistan like Punjab or Sindh. That is because the status of all of Kashmir is still disputed between Pakistan and India. Muzaffarabad, AJK's capital, sits about 30 kilometres from the Line of Control, the unofficial border that splits Kashmir between the two countries.

Residents and local estimates say the protest death toll is over 50, including seven police or security personnel. The government has not released official numbers. Protest leaders say more than 60 civilians have died in less than two months. Amnesty International reported in July 2026 that security forces used lethal force against protesters and called on the government to restore internet access. NetBlocks, an independent group that tracks internet access, confirmed the partial blackout has been ongoing since June 5. As of July 24, Al Jazeera described the region as being in limbo, with roadblocks and internet restrictions stretching into a second month.

Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a top military spokesperson for Pakistan, spoke about the crisis on July 31. He said "Kashmiris hold a special place in Pakistan's heart" and accused interests in India of trying to stir up unrest. India denied the claim. He also said the government alone has the right to use force, that no group's violence is acceptable, and that authorities were acting with "wisdom and restraint."

The Election Commission of Pakistan released the election schedule on March 31, 2026. Its website notes a meeting between the AJK Chief Election Commissioner and Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner during the year. Protesters want more political rights and an end to rules they say weaken local representation. The government says the protest movement threatens public order.

The broader context here is a tension that has shaped the region since it was created. AJK is autonomous enough to elect its own lawmakers, but it is not a full province because of the Kashmir dispute. That creates a gap in how the region is governed, and local people are now pushing to close that gap. The 12 reserved seats are the heart of the fight. JAAC and its supporters say those seats give too much power to people who do not actually live in AJK. The government says the seats let the diaspora stay connected to the territory's future, which fits Pakistan's position that all of Kashmir belongs to its people.

The use of lethal force, the banning of the protest group, and the long internet blackout together raise real questions about whether these elections can be considered fair. Amnesty and NetBlocks have independently confirmed some of the restrictions facing voters. Because the voting is staggered, with the last round on August 10, the result will not be known for another week. Tensions could rise or ease in that time.

How Pakistan balances security with a credible vote in AJK will affect how the election is seen — both inside the country and around the world, where Kashmir's status remains a deeply contested issue.