After several days of intense and often violent unrest across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the federal government and protesting factions formally signed an agreement on Saturday, October 4, 2025. This significant development aims to conclude the widespread demonstrations, which tragically resulted in at least 10 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
The region’s peace was severely disrupted by a strike that commenced on September 29, 2025. This strike escalated into violence after negotiations collapsed between government officials and leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a key representative organization for the demonstrators.
The protestors initially presented a 38-point charter, demanding its acceptance by the authorities. When these demands were not met, they took to the streets, leading to violent confrontations with law enforcement. These clashes tragically claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, including three police officers, and left hundreds of police personnel and civilians wounded.
As the unrest intensified, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a high-level delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, with the aim of brokering a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The delegation, spearheaded by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, conducted intensive discussions over two days, concluding late at night. Following these talks, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry publicly announced via social media that an agreement had been successfully reached between the government and the protest leaders.
Chaudhry stated, “The negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee…. The protesters are now returning home, and all roads have been reopened. This truly marks a victory for peace.”
A copy of the agreement, shared by Mr. Chaudhry, revealed a comprehensive 25-point document designed to conclude the protests. Key provisions include compensation for families of those who died during the violence and the registration of terrorism cases related to violent incidents and vandalism that led to the deaths of both police personnel and protestors.
Furthermore, the federal government committed to establishing two new intermediate and secondary educational boards within PoK, specifically for the Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.
Under the agreement, local governments will release funds within 15 days to implement health cards, ensuring free medical treatment for patients. The federal government will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to each district of PoK in a phased manner.
Additionally, the federal government pledged PKR 10 billion towards upgrading PoK’s electricity infrastructure.
To streamline governance, the PoK Cabinet size will be capped at 20 Ministers and advisors, with the number of administrative secretaries also limited to 20 at any given time. This reduction will be achieved partly through merging various government departments.
The Pakistani government also committed to conducting a feasibility study for the construction of two tunnels—one at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 KM) and another at Chaplani (0.6 KM)—along the Neelum Valley road. A high-powered committee, comprising legal and constitutional experts, will be formed to discuss matters related to members of the PoK Assembly. Plans for constructing an international airport in Mirpur were also affirmed.
Further, property transfer taxes in PoK will be harmonized with those in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months. To ensure the agreement’s effective execution, a dedicated monitoring and implementation committee will be established.
The preceding Friday, October 3, 2025, marked the fifth consecutive day of a complete shutdown, bringing public transportation to a halt. Roads saw minimal traffic, mostly motorcycles and a few private vehicles. The communications blackout, enforced since Sunday, continued to fuel widespread resentment among the local populace.