Mehbooba Mufti's Pitch For Solution in Kashmir: 'Engage With Pakistan, Take up Imran Khan's Invite'
Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of People's Democratic Party (PDP), resigned as J&K chief minister in June after the BJP pulled out of the coalition government.
Srinagar, December 17: Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has appealed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to resume bilateral engagement with Pakistan and "take up Imran Khan's invitation" for talks. Dialogue between the two nations is the only solution to resolve the conflict in Kashmir Valley.
Mehbooba said the aversion exhibited by the current BJP regime for talks with Pakistan is unwarranted. Recalling the erstwhile BJP-led government at the Centre, she said "Atal Bihari Vajpayee left the roadmap before us" for resolving the Kashmir dispute. Imran Khan Pitches For Peace with India, Says 'Ready For Talks' With PM Modi.
"We have to engage with Pakistan. Vajpayee ji did the same. He also initiated a dialogue with the Hurriyat," she said, adding that under the late BJP stalwart's tenure, the people of Kashmir began "rejecting the idea of separatism".
Mehbooba, the chief of People's Democratic Party (PDP), resigned as J&K chief minister in June after the BJP pulled out of the coalition government.
In November, she once again staked claim to form government, with support from legislators of the National Conference and the Congress. The Governor, however, decided to dissolve the assembly instead, citing "fear of horse-trading".
Speaking at the ITLiveStream event organised by India Today, Mehbooba said Kashmir requires a political solution, rather than an aggressive military approach.
"When you kill 10 militants, 10 more spring up. The cycle will continue. What you have to address is the idea of militancy," the PDP chief said, adding that Burhan Wani was "probably not involved in any encounter" yet he was considered a hero in Kashmir.
"Over 100 people were killed in protests after Burhan Wani's death. Why was he so popular? Because he represented an idea to the youth. Only through dialogue, we can replace that idea with a better idea," she said, appealing the Indian establishment to increase their outreach among the youth of J&K.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 07:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).