MUZAFFARABAD: The final round of talks between the government delegation and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) concluded successfully, with both sides signing an agreement to end the unrest and protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Federal Minister and member of the Prime Minister’s negotiation committee, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, confirmed the signing of the deal, calling it a “victory for peace” in a message posted on X. He added that protesters have begun returning to their homes and all roads have now been reopened.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also hailed the agreement as a triumph for Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and democracy. He said recent public grievances had created a tense situation, but the commitment of both local and national leaderships, along with constructive dialogue, helped resolve the standoff peacefully, “without violence, without division, and with mutual respect.”
Iqbal emphasized that the outcome was not a victory of one side over the other but of the people of AJK, Pakistan, and democracy itself. “The Joint Action Committee raised the voice of citizens, and the government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took these voices seriously. Instead of confrontation, we chose consultation; instead of egos, we chose empathy. We commit to work together for good governance and development in AJK,” he said.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed that the final round of talks with JAAC had begun and expressed hope that an agreement would soon be signed to end the recent unrest in the region.
Talks between the AJK government and JAAC, primarily over elite privileges and reserved refugee seats, had collapsed last week, triggering protests and violent clashes that left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured.
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