MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): An agreement has been reached between the federal government, and the Azad Kashmir Government on one side, and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on the other.
According to sources, all three parties have signed the agreement. Representatives of the Federal Government and the Action Committee agreed on the points after extensive consultations. Azad Kashmir ministers were also involved in the negotiations.
According to sources, representatives of the Action Committee have departed for Kohala, where they will inform the protesting participants about the agreed-upon points and also announce the end of the protest.
The agreement is a victory for Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and democracy, said PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, in his message on social media, soon after the agreement was finalised, said that an agreement has been reached with the Action Committee. This is a victory for Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and democracy.
The people of Azad Kashmir have always stood on the front line of Pakistan’s national stance, and their voice always carries weight and significance.
He said that in recent weeks, a difficult situation arose due to public issues, but the wisdom of local and national leadership and the spirit of dialogue resolved this crisis peacefully.
This agreement is not a victory for any single party but a triumph for Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and democracy. It proves that when the government listens to the people and the people speak constructively, a solution emerges.
He said that the Joint Awami Action Committee raised the voice of the people, and the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, listened to these voices seriously. We prioritized consultation over confrontation and solidarity over ego, they said.
“This is a victory for peace, Long Live Azad Kashmir, Long Live Pakistan,” said Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Negotiating team, JAAC sign final agreement
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, in his message on X, said that our negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Joint Action Committee Azad Kashmir.
He said that the protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have opened. “This is a victory for peace. Long Live Azad Kashmir, Long Live Pakistan.”
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced that the final round of negotiations with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had begun and an agreement was expected to be signed soon, in a bid to end ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Talks between the AJK government and JAAC over elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees broke down last week.
The AJK groups have since staged protests. Fierce clashes between protesters and law enforcers left at least 10 people dead and scores critically injured in the territory.
A high-level government delegation and the civil society alliance held a fresh round of on Thursday, followed by another one on Friday.
Chaudhry, who has been in Muzaffarabad as part of the federal government delegation, took to X and stated that matters between the two sides had been settled.
“[The] final agreement is expected to be signed soon [and] the final round of negotiations is underway,” the federal minister wrote. “Public interests and peace are our priority.”
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also said earlier that the government negotiating team was very close to an agreement with the JAAC.
