Feb. 8: The Centre is looking into the issue of facilitating the return of Kashmiri youth who had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for arms training and are willing to return to the Valley and rejoin the national mainstream. The move comes following a suggestion by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday asking the government to help facilitate their return.
The J&K chief minister had sought the Centre’s help in framing a new surrender policy for the return of these youth, who went for training to militant camps in PoK but do not want to come back with weapons.The Union home ministry is expected to draw up a proposal providing general amnesty to such Kashmiri youth not involved in any terror activities and keen to return to the Valley.Raising the issue at the chief ministers’ conference, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Omar Abdullah had said: “To encourage more militants to return to the state and manage their transition to civilian life, a new surrender and rehabilitation policy of militants is under active consideration of my government.”Official sources said the home ministry will soon call a meeting of state officials and discuss the broadcontours of a new surrender policy.
Age Correspondent New Delhi