'Dialogue is the only option': PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti bats for talks with Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday reiterated calls for India to hold dialogue with Pakistan and other stakeholders to resolve the Kashmir issue. The remarks came soon after a CRPF jawan was shot dead by terrorists in the Pulwama area, with the former Chief Minister saying that talks were the only way to stop the bloodshed.

"There is a need to start dialogue both ways. If we say that militancy is Pakistan-sponsored, then, for that also, talks have to be held with Pakistan like (former PM A B) Vajpayee had and militancy had decreased and infiltration was down," Mufti told reporters.

She insisted that there it was necessary to "talk to every stakeholder" and seek a solution to the issue so that people - be it a soldier from Bihar, a CRPF jawan or ASI Mushtaq Ahmad (of J-K Police) or a common man or Muslim (Muneer) who was killed in custody - do not lose their lives.

Earlier on Sunday a CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector had been killed after terrorists fired upon the troopers at Gangoo in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. Following the attack police parties had reached the spot and an operation was started to nab the attackers.

Mufti also touched upon the abrogation of Article 370, calling its restoration a step towards the resolution of the entire Kashmir issue. She also voiced skepticism about the outcome of many petitions pending before the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's August 5, 2019 decisions of revoking Article 370 and splitting the erstwhile state into two UTs.

"We do not know when the elections will take place or whether they will be conducted or not. The way the BJP brings new laws every day to disempower the people here and are trying to wipe their existence, I think they are hesitant to conduct the elections," she said. Mufti also accused the Centre of indulging in 'jumlabazi' when it came to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.