The protests come weeks ahead of Khan’s scheduled trip to the UN General Assembly where he has vowed to act as an ambassador for the people of Kashmir, after New Delhi stripped its portion of the Himalayan territory of its autonomy earlier this month. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed rivals since, as Indian authorities launched a sweeping crackdown in Kashmir, which included cutting phone and internet access, placing restrictions on movement and arresting thousands, according to multiple sources. Following repeated calls to protest Friday, thousands gathered in the Pakistani capital Islamabad in front of the prime minister’s secretariat, where Khan vowed to continue fighting for Kashmir until it was “liberated”.
