MUZAFFARABAD: Shops reopened and mobile services resumed in Azad Kashmir’s capital on Saturday after days of violent anti-government protests ended under a deal between demonstrators and authorities.
The agreement followed nearly a week of unrest led by traders and civil rights groups demanding better public services and subsidies in the disputed region that is part of the larger Himalayan valley of Kashmir claimed by both India and Pakistan.
Thousands had taken to the streets in Muzaffarabad and nearby towns, calling for reforms in electricity pricing and government spending. Clashes between protesters and security forces left at least six civilians and three police officers dead, officials said.
Kashmir, divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from Britain in 1947, has a long history of political discontent. In the latest protests, demonstrators accused local leaders in Azad Kashmir of neglecting health, education and infrastructure while prioritizing perks for officials. Under the agreement that ended the unrest, Islamabad pledged new projects wort $35 million to upgrade electricity supplies and other public services.
“Our demands have been accepted, and this is the result of our long struggle,” said Choudhury Rafiqe Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Muzaffarabad.
