Blaming Pakistan for Kashmir unrest is ‘living in denial’, says Omar Abdullah

“Violence has changed nothing on political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir, but brought mayhem, miseries, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the State”, the Chief Minister said while handing over appointment orders under SRO-43 to the next of kin of such government employees who have died in harness.

He is also expected to meet Governor N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her cabinet colleagues. Leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League and Democratic Freedom Party Manzoor Ahmad Ghazi and Engineer Farooq Ahmad Khan addressing the gatherings criticized the criminal silence of world community over the loss of civilian lives in Kashmir.

“Our children are today getting killed or maimed, our social fabric is slipping into disorder, economy is in shambles, educational sector has suffered immensely, tourism inflow is zero, shopkeepers are not able to do business, industrial units are shut, development process has come to a halt and people are feeling suffocated”.

Earlier in the day, Indian PM Narendra Modi met a delegation of Kashmir’s opposition leaders, led by Omar Abdullah, who called on him to rein in troops and police.

Singh will be meeting various delegations especially leaders of mainstream political parties. “Our motive is to break the cycle of death and find a long term solution to the problem”.

“We are of the firm opinion that the central government should waste no further time in initiating a credible and meaningful political dialogue with all stakeholders to address the unrest in the state”, the memorandum said.

Monday’s remarks by the Prime Minister, therefore, signalled a change in New Delhi’s assessment of the situation in Kashmir. “We are hopeful that it will happen soon”.

WASHINGTON: the U.S. has said a dialogue is between two countries India and Pakistan; it voiced support to meetings at any level between the two countries. “The problem is that we tend to believe that we have learnt from our past mistakes and then, more or less, become complacent”.

The delegation sought an “immediate ban on pellet guns” – a unsafe mob control weapons that has blinded hundreds of people, including children, in Kashmir.

Sager said they informed Singh about mass arrests and night raids being conducted by the forces.

Blaming Pakistan and separatists for instigating protests in the Valley has lent credence to the shrill jingoistic discourse on Kashmir but did little to contain the spread of violence with every killing in the Valley.