Srinagar, Aug 14,: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said the Supreme Court’s reference to the recent Pahalgam militant attack, while discussing the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, highlights the Government of India’s continuing lack of confidence in the region’s stability.
Mehbooba Mufti said that even after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its conversion into a Union Territory, the Centre appears reluctant to ease its tight control over the region. She described the situation as a political and psychological deadlock.
“The Jammu and Kashmir issue goes far beyond questions of statehood or constitutional status. Unless New Delhi engages with the political aspirations of the people and addresses the core issue head-on, it will remain on uncertain footing regardless of the force it deploys,” she said.
The PDP chief added that it was time the Government of India corrected what she termed as past missteps and initiated a sincere process of dialogue and reconciliation aimed at bringing lasting peace and dignity to the region. [KNT]
