Pakistani Soldiers Mourned
Mass Funeral Honors 22 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Kashmir Helicopter Crash
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Pakistan held a mass funeral on Thursday for 22 soldiers killed when a military helicopter crashed in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to Associated Press. The Mi-17 helicopter went down Wednesday morning, apparently due to a technical fault shortly after takeoff, and caught fire. There were no survivors.
The dead included one colonel and two majors, Anadolu Agency reported. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, attended the funeral and led the final prayers. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both issued tributes, saying the nation salutes the soldiers' sacrifice.
Soldiers Were Deployed Amid Rising Civil Unrest
The 22 soldiers were on their way to perform security duties in Muzaffarabad when the helicopter went down, according to Reuters. The city had been brought to a standstill by a protest march organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee, known as JAMEC. The group had called a "Long March" on the capital to protest a Supreme Court ruling that reserved 12 legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.
Violent clashes had already erupted in the nearby town of Rawalakot on June 7 and 8, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 20 security personnel, according to Al Jazeera. The AJK government officially banned JAMEC on June 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act, labeling it a threat to public order. Police had arrested 72 activists linked to the group by June 8.
JAMEC Ban Turns Economic Protests Into Political Crisis
JAMEC began as a grassroots movement focused on economic grievances. In May 2024, a previous Long March forced the federal government to hand over a 23 billion rupee ($82 million) grant to subsidize wheat and electricity in the region, according to Dawn. The 2026 protests were re-ignited by the refugee seat ruling, which JAMEC says gives non-residents unfair influence in local elections set for July 27, 2026.
AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore vowed
Military Calls Crash a Technical Failure, Not Sabotage
Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the military's media wing — confirmed the crash was caused by a technical fault and said all 22 personnel on board were killed, according to Dawn. Officials have been careful to separate the crash from the ongoing political unrest, pushing back against any suggestion of sabotage. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.
The Mi-17 is a Soviet-designed transport helicopter widely used by Pakistan's army aviation corps. Losing 22 personnel — including three senior officers — in a single non-combat accident is a significant blow, Anadolu Agency noted. The soldiers are being honored as martyrs by the Pakistani state.
Elections and Stability at Risk as Unrest Continues
The July 27 legislative elections in AJK now face serious uncertainty. The Nation reported that the Election Commission has banned new government appointments and projects during the campaign period, but JAMEC's continued agitation could depress turnout or spark further violence. A 10 million rupee ($36,000) bounty has been placed on JAMEC leadership, and paramilitary forces remain deployed across the region.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has previously called the state's crackdown on AJK protesters "heavy-handed," citing internet blackouts and paramilitary deployments. Local residents in Muzaffarabad describe the city as effectively shut down. The sight of 22 military coffins has temporarily quieted some protesters, but anger over the refugee seat dispute remains unresolved, according to Associated Press.
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