courtesy HT NOV 10

Militancy on the rise, Pak dialogue key: Mehbooba
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

letters@hindustantimes.com

Jammu : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that militancy was on the rise in Kashmir, even as she said that dialogue with Pakistan and stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir was important to bring peace to the region.

Mufti on Monday visited Jammu for the first time after her release from a 14-month detention following the revocation of the special status to J&K. Speaking against the Centre’s move in August last year, Mufti said the “arbitrary and illegal decision” forced youngsters to pick up arms. “Today, 10-15 young men are joining militancy from each village because the BJP has suppressed their voices...Faced with the option of either going to jail or picking up arms, they choose to pick up arms and die,” she said.

Asking the Centre to hold dialogue with Pakistan in a bid to bring border skirmishes to an end and restore peace, she said: “If you can talk to China, why can’t you talk to Pakistan?