Top trade bodies groups did not attend the meeting.
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Aziz, however, said in a statement that “such a verdict on the future of Kashmir can only be given by the people of Kashmir and not by the External Affairs Minister of India”.
Branding the separatists “stooges of Pakistan”, BJP today said there was no need to hold talks with the Hurriyat leadership which has been working hard to keep the “Kashmir pot boiling”. “We want to build a relationship based on emotional bonds”.
“I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible”, he said.
Rajnath Singh, in no ambiguous terms, asked Pakistan to stop meddling in Kashmir affairs.
The Chief Minister said there is a need to take “bold measures to address the issue as the people of Jammu and Kashmir were our own”. The Congress stayed away from deliberations with the home minister. “Government of India is clear on it”, the union minister said.
“Every day we get to know that infiltration is going on unabated along the borders”, Mehbooba said, stating causes of increasing terrorism in Kashmir valley and repeated intrusions from across the border. “Let us first ensure normalcy”.
“Those who have pinned any hope on this visit are living in a fool’s paradise as our 70 years experience with India stands testimony to the fact that they were never honest and realistic regarding Kashmir”, he said.
The adviser said that government and the people of Pakistan remain firmly committed in their moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiris’ indigenous movement for self-determination and resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir. “If we have come here, we have come with some objective and do something”, he said.
Meanwhile, another injured youth Sameer Ahmad Wani succumbed to his injuries last evening, thereby taking the death toll to 49. “(Kashmir is) a political problem which requires political engagement both internally and externally”, a delegation of National Conference led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah told the home minister yesterday.
The curfew other restrictions imposed by Indian authorities entered 17th day on Monday, crippling life in the disputed valley.
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Reminiscent of 2010 unrest, separatists have started issuing weekly protest calendars in the Valley.
