Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired an all-party meeting Friday on the Kashmir unrest, called for a campaign by the people of Pakistan- occupied Kashmir to expose the duplicity of Islamabad and to highlight the atrocities taking place in Muzzaffrabad.
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The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to glean information about the “pitiable conditions in PoK” from migrants from that part of Kashmir in all parts of the world and share it with worldwide community.
According to Financial Express report, Modi has made it very clear that India will stay negative on Pakistan’s interference in India’s internal affairs. In fact, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, too, was briefed in detail by Singh as well as by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar about the security challenges posed by Pakistan. “Now it is time to make Pakistan answerable before the world on the atrocities against people in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”, said Modi.
A section in the Indian establishment favours a counter-offensive by New Delhi over human rights violations in PoK and Balochistan, where Pakistan’s security forces are accused of extra-judicial killings in a crackdown on groups seeking greater autonomy for the resource-rich province.
Today, underscoring that addressing terrorism is “central to our engagement”, External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, “Unlike in the past, we can’t agree that dialogue with sponsors and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard”.
“Cross border terrorism is the cause of instability and Kashmiris want peace and believe in democracy”, he said.
During the meeting, Yechury asked Modi to use the hotline to talk to Sharif on the Kashmir issue.
Along with the political dialogue, the government should announce confidence-building measures like stoppage of use of pellet guns on protestors and withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from civilian areas where the armed forces are not required, he told PTI. Two, at the same time, steps will also be initiated to win the confidence of the people, officials said.
On Afghanistan, Aziz said the Conference noted that there was full consensus in Pakistan that the peace in Kabul is in their national interest.
The Prime Minister had earlier appealed for unilateral dialogue on Kashmir issue urging all stakeholders to come to the table.
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While Pakistan denied that terrorists were crossing over to India, investigators have said the revelations of arrested Pakistani terrorist Bahadur Ali point to the neighbouring country’s involvement in the ongoing unrest in the state.
