Pakistan’s troubles in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) continued to deepen this week, with violence and public unrest marking the regions. On August 14, 2025, a blast in Balochistan reportedly killed several Pakistani security personnel, underscoring the persistence of separatist militancy following the U.S. reasserting its terrorist designation for the Balochistan Liberation Army. In PoK, widespread protests on August 15 were reported in cities like Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, where demonstrators denounced systemic corruption and severe shortages of electricity and water. Pakistani authorities have responded with increased force, heightening tensions. The growing resentment highlights Islamabad’s failure to address local grievances in both regions, raising concerns about mounting instability and the erosion of federal authority.