Centre offers 8-point initiative for Kashmir1
New Delhi/Srinagar, Sept. 25: In a significant move since the latest trouble began in Jammu and Kashmir in June this year, the government on Saturday announced a comprehensive eight-point initiative to bring peace in the Valley. This, among others, will include attempt to de-scale presence of security forces, constituting a group of interlocutors to hold “sustained dialogue” with all shades of Valley life and release of about 245 persons detained for stone-pelting.
The decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.
Significantly, the Centre has asked the state government to soon convene the meeting of the Unified Command, which is chaired by the Chief Minister, to review the existing notification of areas as “disturbed”.
“After the review certain areas may be excluded from the list disturbed areas. If such a decision is taken then this will pave the way for non-application of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in de-notified areas,” sources said.
Meanwhile in Srinagar, the separatist leader, Mr Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has rejected the Centre’s 8-point formula saying it does not address the core issue of Kashmir and is a “deliberate attempt to buy time.” He also announced a 10-day calendar of strikes and protests beginning on Monday
Other separatist leaders have maintained a studied silence over the package whereas the Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, welcomed it as a positive development.
The chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mr Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said he would discuss the package with his senior colleagues in the conglomerate.
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