New Delhi: With violence spiraling in the Valley, leaders of both the ruling party and opposition in Kashmir have appealed to engage in peace talks with Pakistan.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that talks are necessary "to end the bloodshed". While on the other hand, former Chief Minister and leader of National Conference, Farooq Abdullah spoke on similar lines and said that Pakistan must take steps to resolve the situation and end bloodshed.
Mufti took to Twitter in reaction to the attacks on Sunjuwan Army camp in Jammu and a CRPF camp in Karan Nagar, Srinagar, and said, "Dialogue with Pakistan is necessary if we are to end bloodshed. I know I will be labelled anti-national by news anchors tonight but that doesn’t matter. The people of J&K are suffering. We have to talk because war is not an option."
Later, speaking at the state Assembly, she hit out at some media houses for labelling those favoring dialogues with Pakistan as “anti-nationals”.
She said, “Unfortunately, some media houses have created an atmosphere that if we talk of any dialogue (with Pakistan) then we are labelled anti-national."
She was also quoted by ANI as saying, "We fought and won all wars against Pakistan but even today, there is no solution other than dialogue. How much longer will our jawans and civilians keep dying? Wonder what some media houses would have called Atalji if he took the bus to Lahore in today’s time and talked of dialogue."
At the same time, when political leaders in the state are calling for talks with Pakistan, senior BJP leaders didn't seem to agree. Speaking to CNN-News18, BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav said, “How can both terrorism and talks happen together. Terrorism must end first. India has never shied away from talks.”
At the same time, the NC chief Farooq Abdullah told reporters that Pakistan needs to know that guns and violence are not going to help them.
He said Pakistan must adopt such an approach "that will solve the situation and also help us progress. A lot of blood has been spilled and it hasn't benefitted anyone. If the situation persists then India will also have to think of their next step”.
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