Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and his party National Conference and also some of their coalition partners from the Congress have advocated repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Areas Act (DDA) on the premise that the ground situation that had necessitated their enforcement has improved considerably over the years. The Union home ministry has also in 2010 pushed for a scaling back of the AFSPA to reflect the reduced incidence in recent years of separatist violence and infiltration from across the Line of Control. But the Army has openly argued for its retention and was reportedly being supported by the defence ministry hierarchy on the issue. Home minister P. Chidambaram had during a meeting in New Delhi held earlier in October asked the chief minister to identify the areas which are deemed peaceful by the state government so that the Centre could begin working on a partial withdraw of the AFSPA and DAA.
Mr Abdullah did not specify which areas will see withdrawal of the controversial laws but they are expected to include the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama and Ganderbal in the Valley and Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts (fully or partly) in the Jammu region. Apart from the twin capitals Srinagar and Jammu the urban areas to the south of the state which have been peaceful in recent years are also likely to be dropped from the disturbed areas roster thereby paving the way for revocation of the AFSPA as well.
However, the special powers will in all probability remain in force in areas closer to the LoC including in the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore in Kashmir Valley and Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region besides parts of Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi districts.
The chief minister sought to play down the speculation reflected by some political parties about the maintenance of security situation in these areas by the J&K police after the withdrawal of the AFSPA and said that the local police was capable of shouldering the responsibilities in this regard with capacity and calibre. “The return of peace in the state became possible because of the sacrifices rendered by the Jammu and Kashmir police personnel along with their compatriots from other forces,” he said and reiterated that the J&K police is capable of maintaining peaceful situation and blunting any threat in this regard. “There is no need of voicing any concern or fear on this count.”