Pakistani authorities reached a peace agreement on Saturday with a civil rights alliance, ending days of violent protests that left at least 10 people dead and bringing calm to Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Under the deal, the regional government led by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq agreed to continue subsidising wheat and electricity, besides accepting more than three dozen other demands related to reducing the number of ministers and improving health, education, and other public services.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry praised the success of the negotiations in a post on X. He wrote that the agreement followed two days of talks in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and that protesters had dispersed.
Chaudhry also said the regional government had accepted all of the protesters’ demands.
The breakthrough came two days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dispatched a high-level delegation to Muzaffarabad for talks with leaders of the Awami Action Committee. The alliance’s leaders stated in a press release that they were grateful to Sharif for addressing their long-neglected demands.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir, who leads the alliance, told reporters he was fully satisfied with the outcome of the talks and confirmed that protests had ended. “I am grateful to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the whole of Pakistan for understanding our problems and agreeing to resolve them,” he said.
Sharif welcomed the successful conclusion of the negotiations, saying public welfare and peace remain his government’s top priorities.
Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan territory, is divided between Pakistan and India, which both claim in full.
Similar protests erupted in the region in 2024, forcing the government to concede to some of the demonstrators’ demands. However, most of the promises were not fulfilled, according to alliance leaders, who expressed hope that this time the agreement would be implemented sincerely and within the stipulated time frame.(HT)