🇮🇳 Indian-occupied Manipur is burning. People are being killed by the Indian Army.

Meanwhile, Indian media remains busy spreading propaganda against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/76eRPNEhbz

— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) July 27, 2026

Manipur: The Ground Reality

The ethnic conflict in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has claimed over 250 lives and displaced thousands . The violence has spread in recent months, also drawing in Naga groups .

In a significant escalation on July 6, 2026, militants ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy in Ukhrul district, killing two soldiers . The attack occurred near Nungshang Kong along the national highway, about 61 km from Imphal, triggering an intermittent exchange of fire that lasted for over three hours .

Witnesses report that the confrontation escalated as security forces responded with:

• Automatic rifle fire — multiple rounds fired at protesters

• Tear gas — used to disperse peaceful demonstrators

• Baton charges — including against women protesters

The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhul Naga tribe, has strongly condemned what it described as excesses committed by personnel of the 40 Assam Rifles Battalion during the confrontations.

Indian Media's Propaganda Machine

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that security agencies had uncovered an Indian-backed digital network using bot farms and Indian payment gateways to run propaganda campaigns against Pakistan .

According to Tarar, a digital marketing professional was arrested for receiving payments from India in exchange for running a "network of misinformation" in Pakistan . The investigation revealed:

• Bot farms used to spread anti-state content

• WhatsApp communication with Indian handlers

• Small payments transferred to avoid detection

• Forensic evidence linking network accounts to India

Tarar alleged that the individual had confessed that "most of the content he received was related to the Joint Awami Action Committee" and that the government now had "irrefutable evidence" of the group's ties to India .

The minister observed that Indian-funded troll farms operating on social media often sought digital marketing services, with the digital marketing professional using bot farms to spread "anti-state content and content targeting Pakistan, its security, the government, the army, the army chief, and state institutions" .

Pakistan's Position

The Foreign Office has also rejected India's "baseless statement" on Pakistan's "legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions" against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, pointing to India's "historic interference in and undermining of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries" .

The FO spokesperson further alleged that India has "actively aiding and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, in violation of the relevant UN Security Council sanctions regime, and continues to play the role of a regional spoiler" .

Set a tricky target of 211 on a deteriorating surface, the tourists were never in contention and were all out for 120 off 40.2 overs just after tea.

It could have been worse. When they subsided to 71 for nine, Pakistan seemed doomed to their lowest Test innings total against the West Indies.

Bowling hero Mohammad Abbas hung around with captain Babar Azam to put on 49 runs for the last wicket before Jayden Seales ended the match by trapping Abbas leg-before for 23, finishing with figures of five for 20.

Babar remained unbeaten on 58.

Pakistan will go into the second and final Test a few miles away at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, starting Sunday, on the back of four consecutive defeats and an extended abysmal run of 13 losses in their last 17 Tests.

This was also the eighth consecutive Test loss away from home.

Their capitulation was a repeat of events of the third day when they lost seven wickets for 38 runs, sliding from 244 for three to 282 all out to concede a 29-run first innings deficit.

‘Being disciplined’

Pakistan fought back with the ball late on day three, but West Indies rallied to a second innings total of 181, adding 55 runs on the fourth morning on the back of an adventurous 38 off 27 balls (four sixes and one four) from Shamar Joseph.

Even after the innings was wrapped up by Abbas — who finished with the excellent figures of five for 22 — the Pakistan players’ body language in the field increasingly suggested the target well beyond their reach, especially with former captain Shan Masood hampered by a fractured finger sustained during his first innings century.

He bravely came out with the innings in ruins at 58 for six only to become one of Seales’ victims, taken a backward point by Joseph.

On the day when the late, great all-rounderGarfield Sobers would have turned 90, the latest follower in his footsteps, fellow-Barbadian Justin Greaves, picked up two wickets to finish with match figures of seven for 39 and earn the “Player of the Match” award.

“It was just about being disciplined,” said Greaves. “From watching Mohammad Abbas in both the first and second innings, we tried to mimic that and it pretty much worked out well for us.”

Babar was honest about his team’s batting frailties.

“This surface is good. We have to expect it to be a bit up and down at this stage and also the movement with the new ball. We prepared for this,” he said.

“But they bowled very well, using the conditions, and we just couldn’t get a partnership going.”

West Indies captain Roston Chase enjoyed his second Test win in three matches after going more than a year without success after his appointment.

“I love how this team is going,” he said. “We’re not depending on one or two guys solely. Everyone is chipping in at crucial times.”

He said the issue was becoming increasingly serious and dangerous with each passing day.

Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, along with other party leaders, he said the jirga would be held from August 29 to 31. He also announced that countrywide protest rallies and demonstrations would be held on August 5 to mark three years of imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

He said the proposed jirga would bring together political leaders, tribal elders and other stakeholders to deliberate on rising insecurity, attacks on highways, disruption of trade, burning of goods vehicles and the killing of judges, lawyers, political workers and civilians in the province. He added that after discussions, the jirga would prepare recommendations on how to address the issue.

Political leaders, tribal elders and stakeholders will participate in gathering to draft recommendations

Achakzai, who is also chairman of the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, alleging that frequent attacks had severely affected businesses and transport, leaving many people without livelihoods. He questioned what he described as the government’s failure to restore peace and ensure the protection of citizens’ lives, property and commercial activities.

He also criticised what he termed the limited role of Parliament and provincial assemblies in addressing public concerns and alleged restrictions on the media’s ability to report freely. He condemned the killing of civilians in Kashmir and called for solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

The PkMAP chief opposed the proposed division of districts in Balochistan’s Pashtun-majority areas, saying the move could create further complications. He announced that separate jirgas would also be convened to discuss administrative changes, with decisions to be made in consultation with local communities.

Referring to attacks on transporters, Achakzai claimed that buses, trucks, oil tankers and other commercial vehicles belonging to Pashtuns had been targeted in Balochistan. He warned that transporters could suspend operations if such incidents continued and urged the government to ensure the safety of transport and trade routes.

He also expressed concern over the killing of labourers in recent incidents and criticised the authorities’ handling of security-related events, including those in Hanna Urak and Ziarat. He qu­­estioned why no senior officials had been held accountable following the incidents.

Achakzai further alleged that extortion was being demanded from drivers of goods vehicles travelling on national highways and called on the government and security institutions to take effective action against those responsible. He also criticised what he described as high airfares on flights between Quetta and Islamabad, saying they had become unaffordable for many passengers.

Commenting on compensation for vehicles damaged in recent attacks, he said owners of 14 coal-laden trucks that were set on fire had each been offered Rs950,000, adding that affected transporters were demanding full compensation for their losses.

Achakzai reiterated that political and security challenges could not be resolved through the use of force alone. He called for strengthening democratic institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media, saying lasting peace and stability could only be achieved through constitutional and democratic means.

He also opposed the formation of tribal militias, arguing that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of state security institutions.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The next phase is scheduled for Aug 2, covering Muzaffarabad division and 12 refugee seats, and the last round of voting will be on Aug 10 for Poonch. This is the first time that general elections in AJK are being held in phases. As per the preliminary results, the PML-N appears in pole position, with its main contender the PPP in second place.

While a more complete picture will emerge after the consolidated results are in, there are concerns that the announcement of results in the first phase will impact voters’ choices in the subsequent rounds. This paper is of the opinion that even if the security situation mandated phased polls, the results should have been announced when the entire exercise was complete.

The AJK election commissioner has said that the ongoing polls are “the most difficult” in the region’s history. These concerns are valid, as, despite the beefed-up security, clashes have been reported in Rawalakot between the now banned Joint Awami Action Committee and law enforcers, while reports of irregularities in some places have also emerged. Nevertheless, elections in Muzaffarabad division will be held on schedule, according to the election chief.

While AJK’s election laws may require the immediate announcement of results, the authorities should amend the proviso of immediately declaring results — especially since the decision to hold phased polls came just days before the election, with perhaps little thought given to how initial trends can sway voters in later rounds. In Pakistan, elections are not held in phases and therefore immediately announcing results are hardly an aberration — especially when controversial electoral authorities have good reason for the exercise to be perceived as transparent.

A free, fair and transparent election can lead to a lowering of temperatures, and prove a democratic solution to AJK’s unrest which centres on both political and economic issues. Sadly, trust deficit has figured prominently in these polls. The PTI, which formed the government in 2021, has boycotted the exercise because it believes that in the present circumstances, fair polls are not possible. The opposition TTAP alliance has also raised questions, while independent candidates backed by the banned JAAC were not allowed to contest as per reports. It is then quite clear that, apart from fair polls, the next government must engage all AJK’s political forces to address common challenges.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026