Consensus nears in Kashmir standoff but protests refuse to ease

Final signing soon; permanent review body, expert panel to oversee implementation

MUZAFFARABAD:

The government's negotiating committee, formed on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) reached consensus on an agreement on Friday, with the final document expected to be signed soon.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed that the concluding round of talks was underway, saying that "public interest and peace remain our foremost priorities".

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal hailed the breakthrough as a "victory for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and for democracy". He said that under the supervision of the minister for Kashmir affairs, a permanent committee has been constituted to oversee implementation of the agreement.

Iqbal elaborated that the committee would convene every 15 days to review progress on the demands. In addition, a panel of constitutional experts has been formed to examine the issue of refugee seats in the legislature.

"The committee of constitutional experts will review all aspects of the matter and take a decision acceptable to all. This is a constitutional issue, and it will not be rushed," Iqbal maintained.

The second round of talks between the federal government's negotiating team and the JAAC resumed around noon on Friday.

The Islamabad team, led by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, held detailed discussions with JAAC members earlier in the day.

However, after several hours, Awami Action Committee leaders left the venue and proceeded to Kohala, where thousands of protestors, primarily from Poonch Division, have been camped for days.

Leaders said they would consult with fellow committee members and supporters before announcing their next course of action.

Chaudhry posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "positive progress" had been made and several issues were discussed. However, speaking separately on a TV news channel, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah clarified that "no final consensus" had been reached with the JAAC so far.

At Kohala, Action Committee leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir addressed protestors, urging them to remain patient until internal consultations were complete. "We will deliberate separately, and once we reach consensus, we will present it before you for approval," he told the crowd.

The standoff has effectively shut down daily life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Shops remain shuttered, business activity has halted, and both internet and mobile services are suspended.

Public and private transport also remained off the roads, with protestors blocking the main entry point at Kohala that links AJK with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Long convoys of demonstrators stretch from Kohala Chowk to Dhirkot, led by senior JAAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir from Rawalakot.

The unrest has also sparked solidarity demonstrations nationwide and abroad. On Friday, Kashmiri community members staged protests in front of the Karachi and Lahore Press Clubs, condemning the government's crackdown on demonstrators in AJK.

Meanwhile, HRCP, in a post on X, said it was deeply alarmed by the ongoing violence in AJK, where, reportedly, at least nine people, including three police officers, have lost their lives and hundreds have been injured during protests.

"We strongly condemn the use of excessive force and the deaths of civilians and law enforcers alike, as well as communication blackouts. While dialogue is essential, it cannot be meaningful amid the continued political disenfranchisement of the region's people."

Th commission said that the right to peaceful protest must be upheld and grievances addressed transparently.

"We urge both the federal and AJK governments to avoid further escalation, respect people's fundamental rights and commit to genuine, inclusive negotiations. To this end, HRCP intends to send a fact-finding mission to AJK as soon as possible to assess the situation," it stated.