Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Gilani has initiated efforts to reinstate internet connectivity in various parts of the region, including the entire districts of Mirpur and Bhimber, where services have been suspended for several months due to ongoing protests.
The AJK administration has formally submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior for the restoration of DSL internet services in multiple areas. Additionally, the government has sought the reactivation of 3G and 4G services in specific parts of the Muzaffarabad division and Haveli. This initiative is being portrayed as a fulfillment of one of the prime minister’s early promises.
The federal authorities have been petitioned to restore DSL internet across Mirpur and Bhimber districts entirely. Furthermore, both DSL and 3G/4G services have been requested for Haveli Kahuta. However, in selected areas of Muzaffarabad district, DSL access will initially be limited to educational institutions and banking facilities.
Similarly, limited DSL connectivity is planned for educational institutions and banks in Bagh city and Dhirkot, with the same arrangement proposed for Kotli. At this stage, no internet restoration has been suggested for Rawalakot, Sudhnoti, Sehnsa, Sarsawa, Balouch, and Tatta Pani.
Meanwhile, reports from various parts of AJK indicate that the process of restoring internet services has already commenced in some locations, including Mirpur and Haveli, the home district of former AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. This phased restoration approach means that internet access will not be uniformly reinstated across the region immediately, as restrictions will remain in several areas.
Under the proposed framework, heads of educational institutions and bank officials are required to submit formal undertakings before internet connections are reactivated. These assurances must confirm that the restored services will not be used in ways that compromise state interests, national security, or public order.
Notably, future decisions regarding the suspension or restoration of internet services will be influenced by the behavior of social media users. Authorities will monitor online activity and may adjust access depending on whether social media platforms are used in a manner that threatens public security or order.
Internet services across AJK were initially suspended on June 5, 2026, in response to a protest movement led by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), which had initiated a campaign demanding the acceptance of its demands. The committee had planned a long march to Muzaffarabad on June 9. The shutdown followed an alleged attack on a key JKJAAC member on June 5 and subsequent clashes between protesters and security forces. The committee was declared proscribed the same day, and internet services were suspended region-wide without prior notice.
Temporary internet restorations occurred intermittently during the general elections but were followed by renewed suspensions. This latest initiative by the AJK government represents the first substantial move toward broader internet restoration after a prolonged blackout, although access will remain conditional and restricted in many areas.
