A 100-day internet blackout in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir has severely disrupted connectivity, with mobile data and broadband services suspended since early June and continuing into mid-September.

NetBlocks, cited by dpa, confirms the ongoing partial outage and notes that daily life is heavily affected, including gaps in essential online services while ATMs still function.

The disruption followed deadly protests beginning in early June over the local elections process, leading to a nationwide shutdown of internet access in the region.

The blackout began amid protests demanding electoral reform and persisted as elections were staged in three rounds, finishing the final phase on August 10, with restrictions continuing afterward.

NetBlocks and local observers report the outage remains in effect, with authorities restricting connectivity and broad impacts on daily routines.

Humanitarian and economic strains have intensified due to the internet shutdown in this disputed Himalayan region.

Residents report significant daily-life impacts, including inability to use WhatsApp and online banking, though some services like ATMs remain operational.

Access to essential online services for banking and education is disrupted, delaying exams and impacting business operations.

Despite security concerns, elections proceeded in most areas, and a regional autonomous government was formed based on results from the rest of the region, while protest strongholds around Rawalakot abstained for safety reasons.

The Kashmir region is disputed, with Pakistan-administered Kashmir governed autonomously within a larger, ongoing India-Pakistan sovereignty conflict shaping governance and electoral processes.

Protests intensified after authorities banned a local political committee on June 5, with security forces conducting crackdowns and deadly clashes reported into late July.

The situation underscores the broader humanitarian and political strain in the region stemming from prolonged internet restrictions and electoral tensions.