Islamabad( The COW News Digital)A major breakthrough has been achieved in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after the government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) reached a peace agreement, ending weeks of unrest. The accord was formally announced in Muzaffarabad during a joint press conference attended by members of both sides.
Rana Sanaullah, advisor to the Prime Minister and a member of the government’s negotiation team, said the talks concluded amicably and that the government accepted the JAC’s legitimate demands. He further confirmed the formation of a Legal Action Committee which will meet every 15 days to review progress and resolve outstanding matters.
Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf hailed the deal, stressing that peace in Kashmir is a shared responsibility. He criticized those who sought to derail the process, noting their attempts had failed. Ashraf urged that with a formal grievance mechanism now in place, there was no need for people to return to the streets.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed concern over the escalating situation in AJK and announced that he would personally oversee the peace process. Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described the agreement as a victory for Pakistan, AJK, and democracy, saying wisdom and dialogue had prevailed over violence and division.
In a message prior to the press conference, Iqbal stated that the crisis created by recent public protests was resolved through mutual respect and dialogue. “Neither violence was fueled, nor division allowed. Instead, a peaceful path was found,” he said. He credited the JAC for amplifying the voice of the people and praised the government for responding constructively under the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also confirmed via social media that the negotiation team signed the final agreement with the JAC, calling it “a victory for peace.” He added that demonstrators were returning home and roads were reopening, signaling a return to normalcy.
According to the agreed points, compensation for those killed during the violent incidents will be distributed on October 1 and 2. Furthermore, cases related to deaths during clashes will be registered under anti-terrorism laws.
The government’s negotiation committee included Rana Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Yousaf, Amir Muqam, as well as PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Analysts view the agreement as an important step in restoring stability to AJK and preventing further unrest, though they caution that follow-through on commitments will be crucial to sustaining peace.
