PM Narendra Modi at all-party meet on Jammu and Kashmir unrest

“The root cause of unrest in Kashmir is cross-border terrorism which is being encouraged by our neighbouring country”, the right-wing Hindu nationalist premier said.

This is the second time in less than a week Modi has reached out to the people of the state and shown willingness towards dialogue with all stake-holders there.

Modi said that his government was committed to national security, but there can not be any compromise with the country’s regional integrity.

Responding to the Pakistan statement to invite India for dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said that it welcomes dialogue on relevant issues and at this time it included stoppage of Pak-supported cross-border terrorism.

Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in a letter to the Secretary-General of Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the current uprising in the Valley was a “manifestation of continued and long-held alienation” of the Kashmiris, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

“We are in touch with important interlocutors bilaterally as well as multilaterally to put across the correct picture”, he said. “The Government expects constructive support from all Opposition parties on this”. “The Prime Minister wants us to tap into those belonging to Baluchistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to highlight the atrocities in those regions”, Singh said.

On Punjab government’s helicopter, he said that this incident happened on 4th August as MI 17 helicopter routed from Afghanistan, via Uzbekistan to Russian Federation, coincidently disappeared in Logar province of Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is herself a victim of terrorism and lost thousands of civilian and military personnel’s lives in war against terrorism” he added by saying that Pakistan was taking action against terrorism. I have full sympathies with their families. Consequently, the demonstrators have occupied all the roads including the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway, shouting pro-Pakistan, pro-Azadi and anti-India slogans and waving the Pakistani flags.

Rajnath Singh said the Centre would soon finalise the details of financial package of Rs 80,000 crores to the development of the State.

It was also suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Kashmir to assess the situation but the government did not make commitments regarding any of these demands.

Armed with confessions of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Bahadur Ali, India will tell the world that the LeT is sending its cadre in connivance with Pakistani security forces, to fuel large-scale agitation in Kashmir. Decision to call separatists and Hurriyat for talks will be evaluated by the Government according to the prevailing situation.