Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry revealed on Wednesday that security agencies dismantled a weapons-smuggling network allegedly channeling arms from Afghanistan to individuals linked with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

During a press briefing in Islamabad, Chaudhry explained that the network was uncovered through an intelligence-led operation involving operatives in Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and AJK. Local facilitators reportedly assisted in transporting weapons into the region.

The investigation commenced following the arrest of a man named Zia, an AJK resident believed to have been engaged in arms trafficking for eight to ten years. He is accused of supplying weapons to JAAC affiliates for approximately two years. Zia was apprehended after security forces came under fire near Kashmir Mor.

Authorities analyzed Zia’s mobile phone records, which led to the identification of contacts within the network. One such contact, Majid, was described as a close associate of Sardar Amaan Ullah, a prominent member of the banned JAAC. An audio recording played at the conference allegedly captured a conversation between Zia and Majid discussing the movement of armed individuals and procurement of weapons, including Dragunov rifles.

Chaudhry further disclosed an alleged connection between Zia and a man named Zarshad, operating from multiple cities in Afghanistan, who supplied arms to Pakistan. Weapons were reportedly transported from Afghanistan to Bara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before being moved into AJK with the support of local facilitators.

Another individual, identified as Akbar and described as a government employee, is accused of assisting in the transportation of weapons. Akbar allegedly used his official status to evade inspections and received payments for each consignment. An audio recording involving Zia and Akbar was also presented during the briefing.

Intelligence agencies traced the network through phone intercepts, communication records, and other investigative means. An additional audio recording between Zia and Zarshad discussed various weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles. One transaction mentioned involved Rs2.2 million, with Rs1.1 million reportedly paid, partially through hawala or hundi channels.

Chaudhry did not submit the recordings as court-verified evidence, and the authenticity of the allegations could not be independently confirmed.

In a significant development, the minister linked the arms network to the ongoing unrest in AJK, suggesting that the violence around protests and regional elections was not merely political. He noted that the government had accepted or partially accepted 37 of the 38 demands made by the JAAC and had begun implementing them before the group announced a long march, implying the timing raised questions about their true intentions.

The government had previously stated that most JAAC demands were addressed following an agreement in October 2025, though the issue of 12 seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir in the AJK Legislative Assembly remains unresolved due to constitutional and legal complexities.

AJK authorities proscribed the JAAC under the Anti-Terrorism Act on June 5, accusing it of terrorism and activities threatening peace and security, just days before planned demonstrations. Historically, the JAAC has positioned itself as a civil rights group advocating on issues such as electricity rates, wheat subsidies, governance, and political representation. Its 38-point charter fueled protests and shutdowns throughout 2025 and 2026.

Chaudhry emphasized that preparations for violence had been underway for about two years, not hastily organized just before recent disturbances. He cited violent incidents during the AJK elections, including clashes in Mirpur on the first day of polling amid high voter turnout. Police accused armed JAAC-linked protesters of firing on security personnel during confrontations in Rawalakot, while the JAAC denied these claims.

The government has maintained that armed actors were involved in the unrest, but independent fact-checkers highlighted that some videos circulating online, allegedly showing JAAC members firing on forces, were AI-generated, complicating verification of such evidence.

The minister stressed the need to differentiate between legitimate political activism and armed militancy, describing the arms network as part of a broader “terror-crime nexus” involving smuggling of weapons, narcotics, vehicles, and petroleum products, which finances and supports violent acts.

He noted that the government is conducting around 200 intelligence-based operations daily against militant and criminal groups and reiterated accusations that Afghan territory is being used to orchestrate attacks and destabilization efforts in Pakistan. The arms network in AJK was linked to a larger cross-border smuggling system funneling weapons from Afghanistan through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into AJK.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Chaudhry presented a video statement from Zia, who identified himself as an AJK resident from Sudhanoti. In the video, Zia allegedly admitted connections with senior JAAC figures and contacts involved in arms acquisition. He also discussed communications with Zarshad and Akbar and referenced attacks on security forces in AJK. However, the conditions under which this statement was recorded were not independently verified at the briefing.

The minister assured that the investigation would continue, with further evidence regarding financial transactions, weapon procurements, and communications among network members potentially released in the future.

These developments add a security dimension to the already tense political situation in AJK, where the JAAC’s campaign over governance, economic grievances, and political representation escalated into violent clashes with security forces and coincided with a contentious election period.