Two Agreements Reached, Strike Ends, and Three Days of Mourning Announced — Internet Blackout Lifted in Pakistani-Administered Kashmir

Muzaffarabad (The Azadi Times Report) — After several tense days of protests, lockdown, and uncertainty, two major agreements have been reached between the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) and Pakistan’s federal ministers in Pakistani-administered Jammu & Kashmir.
The committee has called off the strike that had been ongoing since September 29 and declared three days of mourning to honor those who lost their lives during the demonstrations.

The long march participants have now returned home from Kohala, marking a pause in the months-long standoff.
Thanksgiving rallies are scheduled for October 7 across the region.

Importantly, two separate agreements were finalized — one dated September 25 (with signatures completed on October 3) and another dated October 3, 2025.
The September 25 agreement was drafted in Urdu, while the October 3 agreement was in English.

First Agreement (September 25, 2025)

This agreement primarily addressed JAAC’s key demands, including reduced electricity tariffs, wheat subsidies, and institutional reforms.
Although negotiations took place on September 25, signatures were delayed until October 3 due to the complete internet blackout that lasted from September 28 to October 4 across the region.

Second Agreement (October 3, 2025)

The second agreement, drafted in English, was officially signed between Pakistan’s federal ministers and the JAAC. It includes 12 main clauses and several additional points, outlining both political and administrative reforms for the region.

1. Terrorism Law Cases

Cases related to the violent incidents from September 29 to October 3 will be registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
These include casualties among both protesters and law enforcement officers.
Where deemed necessary, judicial commissions will be formed to investigate the incidents.

2. Compensation for Victims

Families of those killed on October 1 and 2 will receive the same compensation as law enforcement personnel who died on duty.
Those injured by gunfire will receive PKR 1 million, while the families of those killed will receive a government job within 20 days for one family member.

3. New Education Boards

Two new Intermediate and Secondary Education Boards will be established in Muzaffarabad and Poonch.
Together with the existing Mirpur Board, all three will be linked to Pakistan’s Federal Board within 30 days.
This effectively ends the independent education system in the region.

4. Mangla Dam Expansion Families

Land under the use of Mangla Dam extension families will be regularized within 30 days.

5. Local Government Act 1990

The Local Government Act of 1990 will be implemented in full within 90 days, in line with court orders.

6. Health Card Program

The AJK government will release funds within 15 days to implement the Health Card scheme for all citizens.

7. MRI and CT Scan Machines

Through funding from the Government of Pakistan, MRI and CT scan machines will be supplied to all AJK districts.

8. Power Infrastructure Improvement

Pakistan will provide PKR 10 billion to improve the electricity distribution system, following a pre-approved release plan.

9. Cabinet and Bureaucratic Reforms

The cabinet size will be limited to 20 ministers and advisers, and there will be no more than 20 administrative secretaries at a time.

• The Civil Defence and SDMA departments will be merged.

• The Accountability Bureau and Anti-Corruption Department will also merge, aligning AJK’s accountability law with Pakistan’s NAB laws.

10. Construction of Tunnels

Feasibility studies will be conducted for two tunnels:

• Kahori/Kamsar Tunnel (3.7 km)

• Chhaplani Tunnel on Neelum Valley Road (0.6 km)
  These projects will be prioritized under the Saudi Development Fund’s PC-I approved on December 6, 2022.

11. Refugee Constituencies (Migrants Residing in Pakistan)

A high-level constitutional and legal committee will be formed to review the refugee constituencies.
It will consist of:

• 2 legal experts from the Government of Pakistan,

• 2 from the Government of AJK, and

• 2 members from the JAAC.

Until the committee’s report is finalized, all funds and ministries held by refugee representatives will remain suspended.

12. Additional Points

1. A judicial commission headed by a High Court judge will investigate the violent incidents in Banjosa, Muzaffarabad, Plak, Dheerkot, Mirpur, and Reyan Kotli.

2. An International Airport in Mirpur will be announced within the current fiscal year.

3. Property transfer tax will be adjusted within three months to match Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

4. Implementation of the 2019 High Court ruling on hydropower projects.

5. Completion of feasibility studies for Greater Water Supply Schemes in ten districts within the current fiscal year.

6. Operation theatres and nurseries to be funded for Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals under the ADP.

7. Construction of Gulpur and Rehman Bridge through the ADP.

8. Reduction in advance taxes in line with FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan.

9. Open merit to be strictly implemented for educational admissions.

10. Construction of Kashmir Colony Dadyal water supply scheme and transmission line through ADP.

11. Granting property rights to refugees of Mender Colony Dadyal.

12. Transport policy revision in accordance with High Court rulings on the use of 1300cc vehicles.

13. Release of Kashmiri protesters arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on October 2 and 3.

Monitoring and Implementation Committee

A joint monitoring and implementation committee will oversee the execution of all agreed points.
The committee will include representatives from:

• The Government of Pakistan,

• The Government of AJK, and

• The Joint Awami Action Committee.

It will define the timelines, resolve disputes, and review the benefits and privileges of judges, ministers, and government officials.
From Pakistan’s side, Amir Muqam and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry will be the first two members, while four more will be nominated later.

Internet Blackout Delayed Information Flow

Due to a complete internet shutdown from September 28 to October 4, media outlets and journalists were unable to publish updates or access official information in real-time.
With the restoration of internet services today, details of the agreements have finally come to light, offering clarity after a week of silence.

Analysis: A Turning Point in AJK’s Political Landscape

These two agreements mark a significant political breakthrough and the end of a tense standoff between the people of AJK and Islamabad.
While calm has returned to the streets, the focus now shifts to how effectively and transparently these promises will be implemented.

For the people of Pakistani-administered Jammu & Kashmir, this moment may well represent the beginning of a new phase — one that tests both governance and public trust.