Large crowds of British Kashmiris and supporters took to the streets of Bradford on Sunday (1 November), demanding justice, accountability and an end to the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The demonstration brought together members of the Kashmiri diaspora from across Bradford and the wider region, with protesters calling for an immediate resolution to the standoff between the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Campaigners demanded the protection of fundamental human rights, accountability for reported killings and disappearances, and the resumption of meaningful dialogue to resolve a crisis that has left families both in Kashmir and across the UK deeply distressed.
For Bradford, home to one of Britain’s largest Kashmiri communities, the demonstration was more than a political protest. It was a deeply personal expression of solidarity with relatives, friends and communities thousands of miles away.
‘Our land, our rights, our dignity and our future’
Among those taking part was a protester known on social media as Kashmiri Boi, who shared a video from the demonstration delivering an impassioned message about the suffering of people in Kashmir.
“We have gathered to raise our voices, for our land, our rights, our dignity and our future,” he said.
“Since June, whatever has been happening in Kashmir is not hidden from anyone. Pakistan’s military establishment and its forces have turned Kashmir into a valley of fear and terror.”
He accused security forces of responding violently to demands for basic rights and public services.
“Our people are being martyred, our people are being disappeared, we are being punished for demanding our rights.
“What was our crime? We asked for cheaper flour, cheaper electricity, clean drinking water, we asked for our rightful share from our own resources.
“All we said was Kashmir’s decisions will be made by Kashmir’s people.
“But we got a response with bullets, we got dead bodies, we got violence, and our people were made to disappear.”
His remarks reflected the anger and frustration expressed by demonstrators who believe the demands of ordinary Kashmiris for affordable essential services, fair access to resources and political representation have been met with intimidation and force.
The allegations against Pakistan’s military and security authorities have not been independently verified.
Bradford activist calls on Yorkshire to stand with Kashmir
Among those lending their voices to the demonstration was Sophie, a local activist in Bradford’s Toller ward, who spoke about her personal connection to Kashmir and why she felt compelled to join the protest.
“Today we have come together to raise our voices for Kashmir. I’m here because of my father, who was a Kashmiri, born in Kotli,” she told those gathered.
Her words highlighted the strong generational ties connecting Bradford’s communities to towns and villages across Azad Kashmir,
where many families continue to maintain close relationships with relatives.
Sharing a further message on social media, Sophie made a direct appeal for justice and accountability, citing alarming figures concerning alleged deaths and disappearances.
“Kashmir needs justice and the world must listen. 338 Kashmiri men and women are reported missing, 91 are confirmed dead. Yakub was murdered by Pakistani soldiers.
“These are families demanding answers, dignity and justice. Their suffering must not be ignored.”
The figures and allegation concerning Yakub were shared by the activist and have not been independently verified by Asian Standard.
Sophie also urged people from different backgrounds across the region to stand together in solidarity with the Kashmiri community.
“Yorkshire we need you to stand together – Yorkshire is home to a large Kashmiri community, this is an opportunity for men and women from all backgrounds to stand together in solidarity,” she said.
Her appeal reinforced the wider message of the march: that concerns over human rights, civilian safety and access to justice should extend beyond the Kashmiri diaspora.
MP raises crisis with government minister as concerns deepen
The Bradford demonstration came just days after Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir, raised the continuing human rights situation during an urgent meeting with a government minister and human rights experts.
Mr Hussain said the situation remained deeply concerning almost five months after the initial escalation of tensions and the introduction of restrictions in Azad Kashmir.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media on Friday (30 October), he warned that reports of repression, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on fundamental freedoms demanded urgent attention.
“Five months on from the start of the lockdowns and restrictions in Azad Kashmir, the situation remains deeply concerning,” he said.
“At our APPG Kashmir meeting with the Minister and human rights experts, I made clear that repression, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on basic freedoms cannot be allowed to continue.”
Mr Hussain also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the concerns of Kashmiris are heard in Westminster.
“Kashmiris continue to face persecution, oppression and injustice. So I want to show solidarity with them and give assurances that as a group we will continue to make sure their voices are heard here,” he said.
He reiterated his support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and called for their rights to remain central to any political settlement.
The MP also referred to reports of widespread casualties, injuries and detentions since the unrest began.
According to figures cited by Mr Hussain, more than 100 people have reportedly been killed in indiscriminate firing, over 1,000 injured and more than 10,000 subjected to arbitrary arrests.
These figures differ from those shared by activists at the Bradford demonstration, reflecting varying reports emerging from the region. The overall number of people killed, injured, detained or reported missing has not been independently confirmed.
Mr Hussain further raised concerns about the continuing impact of communications restrictions and lockdown measures, which he said remained largely in place.
Calling for renewed negotiations, he said: “We want to see an immediate resumption of peaceful table talks, at the heart of which, must remain the inalienable human rights of Kashmiris.”
He added: “The bloodshed must end, communications restored and peaceful dialogue resumed, with the inalienable human rights of Kashmiris protected at every stage.”
Months of unrest spark growing concern in Bradford
The latest march follows months of demonstrations, political tensions and reports of violence in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
As previously reported by Asian Standard, protests organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee have centred on demands for political reform, affordable electricity and essential goods, the release of detainees and greater accountability from the authorities.
Campaigners have also demanded the withdrawal of legal cases against activists and an end to what they describe as the suppression of peaceful dissent.
Reports of security forces opening fire on protesters in Rawalakot and Mirpur have heightened concerns, although the circumstances surrounding individual incidents and the overall number of casualties remain disputed.
The crisis has also prompted a coordinated political response from Westminster.
In an earlier intervention, Mr Hussain led a cross-party letter signed by 65 parliamentarians, including Bradford West MP Naz Shah, urging the UK Government to use diplomatic channels to encourage restraint, de-escalation and dialogue.
The MPs expressed serious concern about reports of live ammunition being used against demonstrators and warned of the impact on British Kashmiri families with relatives in the affected areas.
At the time, Mr Hussain said many British Kashmiris were experiencing considerable anxiety over the safety and wellbeing of loved ones.
Ms Shah also condemned the reported killings, describing the shooting of peaceful demonstrators as “barbaric” and calling for accountability.
The latest demonstration follows an earlier protest outside the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford on 28 July, when Kashmiri activists gathered to highlight alleged human rights violations and demand international attention.
A crisis felt across generations
Bradford’s historic links with Azad Kashmir, particularly the Mirpur region, mean that events thousands of miles away continue to have a profound impact on communities across the district.
For generations, Kashmiri families have contributed to Bradford’s social, cultural, economic and political life while maintaining strong connections to their ancestral homeland.
Many residents continue to have parents, grandparents, siblings and extended family living in the region.
As reports of violence and restrictions circulate, families in Bradford have been relying on telephone calls, social media and community networks for updates about the safety of their relatives.
The concerns extend beyond the immediate threat of violence to questions about access to essential services, political freedoms and the future of younger generations.
For campaigners, the march was also an opportunity to ensure that the experiences of ordinary Kashmiris are not lost amid wider political disputes.
Calls for justice, accountability and peaceful dialogue
The latest demonstration has once again brought the situation in Azad Kashmir into the spotlight, with British Kashmiris demanding that the UK Government and international community pay greater attention to reports of human rights violations.
While protesters have made serious allegations against Pakistani security forces, the precise scale of reported killings, disappearances and arrests remains difficult to establish independently.
The position of the AJK government and Pakistani authorities on the latest allegations has not been established.
For Bradford’s Kashmiri community, however, the continuing unrest is far from a distant political dispute. It is a crisis affecting families, relationships and communities whose ties to the region span generations.
The large crowds seen marching through Bradford demonstrated the depth of concern felt by those who continue to follow developments in their ancestral homeland.
For those who gathered on Sunday, the message was one of solidarity with families seeking answers, an end to bloodshed and a peaceful political resolution that protects the rights and dignity of Kashmiri people.
As calls for negotiations grow louder, Bradford’s Kashmiri diaspora is making clear that, despite the distance, the voices of their communities will not be silenced and the suffering of those in Kashmir must not be forgotten.
