New Delhi, Feb. 11: The Centre on Thursday said that it was ready to welcome Kashmiris who had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and are willing to return after giving up militancy. "The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to
return India is certainly welcome," home minister P. Chidambaram said when asked to comment on Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s proposal that a surrender-and-rehabilitation policy should be formulated to allow Kashmiris to return from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"The idea is accepted... This idea must now be translated into a scheme," Mr Chidambaram said, adding that it was one of the recommendations of one of the working groups appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "We will consult all sections of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
The Leader of the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir will also be consulted on this issue, he said.
"Then we will formulate a scheme. It will take time," the home minister said.
Age Correspondent