Need to remove AFSPA from parts of Kashmir: Omar

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There's 'no harm' in withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Wednesday, raising the pitch ahead of an evening meeting of the unified command where the issue is to be discussed with the army.

There is a "need to remove the AFSPA from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir. This is what I and the deputy chief minister would be conveying to the army this evening", Abdullah told reporters here on the occasion of the opening of government offices here in what is known as the annual Durbar Move.

He said the peace dividends of the summer of 2011 in Kashmir must flow to the people.

Abdullah said the government has a certain perspective, with its own inputs in the matter, which would be shared with the army.

The army, however, is opposed to the repeal of AFSPA, even partially.

The Unified Command meeting Wednesday evening is expected to discuss the removal of AFSPA - which gives sweeping powers to the army and has allegedly caused many rights violations in the valley - from parts of Jammu and Kashmir.