Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday welcomed the agreement reached between the government’s Negotiation Committee and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a “great success for Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.”
The deal brings an end to days of tension and protests, with demonstrators dispersing, all roads reopened, and life gradually returning to normal.
The prime minister congratulated the government team and the members of the Negotiation Committee for their “tireless efforts” in achieving the breakthrough. He also praised the JAC for opting for peaceful dialogue over confrontation.
“Public interest and peace are our priority. We will continue to serve Azad Kashmir. Finally, conspiracies and rumors have died down, and all issues were resolved amicably. Alhamdulillah,” Shehbaz said in a statement.
He urged the people of Azad Kashmir to “avoid paying attention to rumors,” reassuring them that his government had always protected the rights of Kashmiri brothers and sisters, and would continue to do so.
Federal ministers confirm breakthrough
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed on X that the matters had been settled with the JAC and the agreement signed. “Protesters are going back home. All roads have been opened. This is a victory for peace,” he said.
He added that a special committee has been formed which will meet every fortnight to resolve outstanding issues.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, in a media talk, echoed the remarks, stressing that the government’s commitment to peace had prevailed.
Background of talks
The second round of negotiations was held in Muzaffarabad between the government team and the Public Action Committee. The government side included senior leaders such as Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sardar Yousaf, Engineer Amir Muqam and Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and former AJK President Sardar Masood Khan also joined the discussions.
Representatives of the JAC included Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Advocate and Anjum Zaman.
Dr. Tariq Fazal earlier stressed that most demands in the public interest had already been approved, while some requiring constitutional amendments were still under discussion. He maintained that “violence is never a solution” and expressed hope that all matters would be resolved through peaceful dialogue.
End of strike
The deal comes after a three-day shutter-down strike and communication blackout across Azad Kashmir, during which protests had escalated over demands related to subsidies, elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees.
Although rival groups accused each other of violence during the movement, the successful agreement has now paved the way for calm and a return to normal life in the region.
