Internet shutdown crosses 100 days in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that internet access in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been severely restricted for more than 100 days, with mobile data and broadband services suspended since June 5. The blackout began as protests grew over electoral reform ahead of local elections, and it has continued even after staggered voting was held in three rounds, with the final phase on August 10 and a new government later taking office.

The article says the shutdown has affected daily life across the territory, including access to websites and apps used for online banking, business activity, and education. Authorities also postponed entrance exams, adding to disruption for students. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, said the partial blackout has persisted since early June.

According to the report, the unrest started before the July 27 election schedule after authorities banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a grassroots coalition that had been demanding changes to the legislature’s reserved seats. Al Jazeera says officials responded with a crackdown on demonstrations, which escalated into deadly clashes later in July.

More broadly, Pakistan-administered Kashmir is a disputed region claimed by both India and Pakistan and governed through a semi-autonomous system. The continuing shutdown matters because it shows how a political dispute over representation and elections has spilled into prolonged restrictions on communication, commerce and education.