In a disturbing escalation of military interference, the Pakistan Army has begun entering schools in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), armed and attempting to project an aura of authority. This move may be a desperate attempt by the military to regain the respect it has lost among locals, who have grown increasingly critical of the Army’s presence and actions in the region.
Just days prior, Rawalakot residents detained a Pak soldier because of the tragic incident when a Pak Army truck struck and killed a two-and-a-half-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir in Rawalakot’s Jump area. This tragedy triggered intense protests, during which furious locals even handcuffed soldiers as a mark of defiance and protest against the military’s unaccountable behavior in civilian areas.
The situation is similarly concerning at the University of Poonch in Rawalakot, where reports have emerged that female students have been left under the supervision of military personnel. This has sparked widespread anger and unease, with residents and students voicing concerns over surveillance, harassment and political indoctrination within educational spaces that are supposed to foster intellectual freedom and safety.
The visible presence of armed soldiers in schools and universities represents an alarming shift, compromising students’ rights, their sense of safety and the fundamental purpose of these institutions. This militarization of learning spaces is not only a violation of the students’ right to a safe and unbiased education but also a calculated attempt to suppress any potential voice.