Protesters alleged that security forces, operating under Islamabad's control, used gunfire and drones to target key protest sites following morning prayers. The demonstrations were directed against the Pakistani government and security forces, NDTV reported.

The region has witnessed protests over demands for basic rights since June, with Rawalakot emerging as one of the major centres of demonstrations.

The latest unrest comes amid months of protests led by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been pressing authorities to honour commitments made to the people of the region.

Earlier this year, JAAC members were also involved in clashes with security forces, triggering tensions across the region.

In June, Pakistan banned the JAAC under anti-terrorism laws, further escalating tensions between the authorities and protesters.

The latest security crackdown has triggered widespread reactions on social media, with several users criticising the reported use of force against demonstrators.

Abu Dhabi-based Kashmiri activist Sohaib Khan, who is associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), a banned organisation in India, criticised the incident in a post on X.

"Dead bodies of unarmed, peaceful civilians who were targeted by Pakistani killer forces in Rawalakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Pakistan-based CBC News reporter Ali Mustafa shared footage of the demonstrations and said that protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir had circulated videos showing a mass gathering in Rawalakot.

He added that protesters claimed the bodies of activists associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee, who allegedly died during Thursday's security operation, were being displayed at the site.