Dialogue initiators should enjoy trust of Kashmiri people: Mehbooba

Seema Kaul

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 27

Calling for initiation of a dialogue through those whom the Kashmiri people trust, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said the message would be received well only if dialogue initiators had the trust of the Kashmiri people.

Addressing the media after meeting the PM here, Mehbooba said, “I have hope that when the PM says there will be dialogue, and dialogue with everyone, then it would happen. The Kashmiri people should trust those who begin the dialogue, it’s only then that whatever they say, the message will be received well.”

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“Those who are provoking the Kashmiri youth to attack army camps, they have no interest in the dialogue; no point talking to them. But there are others who genuinely want peace and are of a different ideology; there should certainly be dialogue with them. It is the 95 per cent people who want a peaceful resolution,” the CM said, adding that it is only Indian democracy which had space and freedom to allow the Kashmiri people to dream of living with peace and dignity.

“I appeal to Pakistan that if it has any sympathy for the Kashmiri youth, then those who provoke the Kashmiri youth to attack army camps and tell them that it is the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue should stop it,” she said.

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“The Prime Minister took a positive step and invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony; and he himself went there too. But, unfortunately, the Pathankot attack happened after that. And now when the situation is bad in Kashmir, instead of trying to improve it, Pakistan is provoking the youth,” she said.

“In such a situation, Home Minister Rajnathji went there for the SAARC ministerial meeting; Pakistan had the golden opportunity, but it did not accord respect to him,” she said.

Saying that the Prime Minister is pained by the situation in Kashmir, she said he had assured her that the agenda of the alliance–which included the political process--would be taken forward. “So far, the agenda of the alliance has not been taken forward, but the PM has promised me that it will be. We will come out of the circle of bloodshed through the agenda of the alliance that Mufti sahib had hoped for,” she added.