Mehbooba meets Modi, presents 3-point plan to bring peace in Kashmir

After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was “very concerned” about the situation and has asked for steps to end this “bloodshed” so that peace can return to the Valley.

Appealing to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, she said, “please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations.”

The Chief Minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations or army camps.

Mehbooba’s “three-pronged action plan” for peace in Kashmir includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities.However, the release did not spell any details but sources in the know said the plan includes facilitating visit of an all-party delegation to the Valley later next week, a possible change in Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the state.

Stressing the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state, Mehbooba called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by the then NDA Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005.

“Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi,” she said.

The Chief Minister said the intra- and inter-state confidence building measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and the region.

“We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve,” she said and added that the present Prime Minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee.Expressing anguish over the continued violence and killings, Mehbooba sought involvement of all the stakeholders for resolution of the problems facing Jammu and Kashmir and improving the situation in the state.

She said the focus of the State government, Government of India and all other parties in the country is to reach out to the majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir who want peaceful solution of the problem.

Pakistan needles India

 “The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September,” Radio Pakistan reported.