Deadlock Persists Between Awami Action Committee and Government; June 9 Strike and Long March Call Remains in Place
Muzaffarabad, AJK: Negotiations between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the government’s High-Power Committee continued late into the night but ended without a breakthrough, deepening the political deadlock in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (AJK). Following the inconclusive talks, the Awami Action Committee reaffirmed its call for a state wide wheel jam and shutter down strike on June 9, along with a planned long march.
In a brief statement issued after the meeting, JAAC core member Shoaib Nawaz Mir announced that the negotiations had failed to produce an agreement. He urged people across AJK to intensify preparations for the June 9 protest movement while emphasizing that any sincere efforts by the federal government to resolve the issue would be welcomed.
According to the committee, discussions focused on the implementation of the October 4, 2025 agreement, including the contentious issue of refugee seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. JAAC representatives alleged that delays and obstacles from the government side prevented meaningful progress, despite extensive exchanges on various proposals throughout the day.
The statement added that representatives of both the Government of Pakistan and the AJK government requested the committee to postpone the planned protest. However, the Awami Action Committee decided to maintain its protest schedule, calling upon citizens from all districts to prepare for the long march.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, who represented the Pakistani federal government in the talks, said negotiations had not collapsed and would continue next week. He confirmed that proposals had been exchanged by both sides and announced that the AJK government would convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to build broader political consensus on the disputed issues.
Rana Sanaullah stated that another round of talks is expected before June 6 or 7. He also reiterated that the upcoming AJK elections would be held according to the constitutional schedule and that efforts would continue to resolve outstanding disputes before the election process formally begins.
The issue of refugee seats remains at the center of the disagreement. These 12 seats are not merely a political arrangement but are an integral part of the constitutional framework of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly under the AJK Interim Constitution Act, 1974. The seats represent migrants from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and reflect the unresolved status of the Kashmir dispute. Supporters argue that these constituencies are linked to the broader principles of representation recognized in United Nations resolutions on Kashmir and therefore carry significance beyond AJK’s internal politics.
