Pakistan should ‘change stance’ over Kashmir dispute

He chaired a security review meeting attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, bureaucrats, police officials and those from the state and central intelligence agencies besides top officials of paramilitary forces.

SHARIF’S K TALK WISHFUL: PAK DAILY Describing Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s rhetoric about the accession of Kashmir to Pakistan as “wishful thinking”, a leading Pakistani daily said statements like these will invite “more trouble” for the country as well as for the Kashmiri people. “They must change their attitude and mindset vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir”.

“There is no need to involve any third power to bring the situation in Kashmir on rails”, he said, adding that issues of disagreement and conflict can be resolved through dialogue.

Ruling out any dialogue with Pakistan in resolving Kashmir issue, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said that talks will be held with “whosoever the centre can” after restoration of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley and taking into confidence the state’s chief minister. “We want to build a relationship based on emotional bonds”.

“I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible”, he said. Talks can be held but let normalcy and peace be restored.

“The home minister was watching this dance of death and destruction by his so-called security personnel but condemning apart he didn’t even mention it and instead placed a blanket of white lies to hide these ruthless crimes”, he said.

“I have appealed to them to help restore peace and normalcy in Kashmir”. However the Home Minster added that there is no way forward other then talks. On implementing the recommendations of the Centre’s interlocutors on Kashmir named by the previous Congress government, Mr Singh said, “I’ve come to know about this report”.

During his two-day visit, Singh said, he met a cross-section of people.

Accompanied by ruling PDP leaders, Mr Singh met some local players and families of those slain in police firings to hear a firsthand account about the situation.

The two-day visit of New Delhi’s home minister Rajnath Singh to unrest-hit Kashmir has remained unsuccessful as the local leadership has refused to meet him. “This should stop”, Singh told reporters at the technical airport on Sunday evening.

During his two-day visit, Home Minister met over 30 delegations representing cross section of people, trade, business, mainstream political parties and individuals.

The NC delegation, led by former CM Omar Abdullah, asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as the separatist groups in J&K for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution. It also said it would be a “travesty” to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a “mere law and order problem”.