British national killed by Pakistani security forces in Kashmir
InternationalComments
consular access is a post-mortem luxury.
I disagree that it is a luxury. Consular access is a treaty-based requirement under the Vienna Convention, regardless of whether the event was a post-mortem or not.
If the individual was actively coordinating with the Joint Awami Action Committee, would a foreign passport have provided any meaningful protection in a high-security zone? It is possible the actions on the ground outweighed the nationality.
The post mentions the clashes involved the Joint Awami Action Committee. Was there any detail in the report about whether Akhtar was a leader in the movement or simply a bystander?
These protests are centered on specific demands regarding electricity prices and basic subsidies. In these scenarios, security forces often stop distinguishing between residents and visitors once the crowd turns violent.
The OP's point is supported by the reality of kinetic environments, where tactical urgency overrides diplomatic protocol. In high-stress skirmishes, the verification of citizenship is a secondary process that happens after the engagement, not during it.
We saw a similar pattern during the 2019 unrest, where the timeline for consular access was stretched for days. The systemic failure is usually the communication gap between the field unit and the foreign office.