The Pakistani government successfully reached a comprehensive peace agreement with civil rights protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Saturday, October 4, 2025, bringing an end to five days of deadly demonstrations that claimed at least 10 lives and pushed the region into complete shutdown.
The breakthrough came after intensive negotiations between a high-level federal delegation and the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), ending protests that had paralyzed the disputed Himalayan territory since September 29. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced the successful conclusion of talks, declaring it "a victory for peace" and confirming that all protesters had returned to their homes with roads reopened across the region.
Government Delegation and Negotiations
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dispatched an eight member high powered delegation to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on October 1 to resolve the escalating crisis. The negotiating team was led by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and included federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, and Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, along with Pakistan Peoples Party leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira and former regional president Sardar Masood Khan.
The talks, conducted over two consecutive days in the Chief Secretary's office committee room, involved extensive discussions with JKJAAC representatives including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan, and Anjum Zaman Awan. The negotiations concluded around midnight after addressing the protesters' comprehensive charter of demands.
Terms of the Peace Agreement
The signed agreement encompasses 25 key points from the protesters' original 38 point charter, addressing economic, administrative, and infrastructure concerns across the region. The deal includes compensation for families of those killed during the protests, with terrorism cases to be registered against incidents of violence and vandalism that resulted in deaths of both police personnel and protesters.
Major economic provisions include continuation of wheat and electricity subsidies, implementation of health cards within 15 days for free medical treatment, and a substantial PKR 10 billion allocation to improve the electricity system throughout the region. The government agreed to provide MRI and CT scan machines across all districts in a phased manner, establishing two additional intermediate and secondary educational boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.
Infrastructure commitments feature feasibility studies for constructing two tunnels at Kahori/Kamser and Chaplani in the Neelum Valley, alongside plans for an international airport at Mirpur. Property transfer taxes will be aligned with rates in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months, while administrative reforms include reducing the regional cabinet to 20 ministers and advisors and limiting administrative secretaries to 20 positions.
Background of the Crisis
The protests erupted when negotiations between government officials and JKJAAC collapsed on September 29, triggering widespread demonstrations across multiple cities including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Kotli, Dheerkot, and Dadyal. The civil rights alliance had presented a comprehensive 38 point charter demanding removal of elite privileges, abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, royalty payments for hydroelectric power projects, tax relief, and completion of development projects.
The situation escalated dramatically when Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters, killing civilians in multiple locations. Reports indicate five protesters died in Muzaffarabad, five in Dheerkot, and two in Dadyal, while three police personnel were also killed. Over 200 people sustained injuries, many with critical gunshot wounds, as violent clashes spread across the territory.
The protests brought Pakistan-administered Kashmir to a complete standstill, with public transport paralyzed, businesses shuttered, and a communications blackout imposed since September 26 further heightening tensions. Only motorcycles and a few private vehicles were visible on some roads as residents faced prolonged isolation from the outside world.
Historical Context and Implementation
Similar protests occurred in the region during 2024, forcing the government to concede to some demonstrator demands. However, alliance leaders noted that most previous promises remained unfulfilled, expressing hope that this agreement would be implemented sincerely within the stipulated timeframe.
JKJAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir expressed complete satisfaction with the negotiation outcomes, thanking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani nation for understanding their problems and agreeing to solutions. Sharif welcomed the successful negotiations, reiterating that public welfare and peace remain his government's top priorities.
A Monitoring and Implementation Committee comprising representatives from the federal government, regional administration, and JKJAAC will oversee compliance with the agreement. The committee will handle dispute resolution, formulate working methodologies, define implementation timelines considering budgetary constraints, and review existing perks and privileges of judiciary, government officials, and ministers.
The peace deal represents a significant resolution to one of the largest protest movements in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in recent years, addressing longstanding grievances over economic hardships, administrative inefficiencies, and political representation while maintaining the disputed territory's stability within Pakistan's federal structure.
Comments
Post a Comment