In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has advised Modi-led Indian regime to stop “ranting” about war with Pakistan and take the path of dialogue and reconciliation.
Speaking at an event in Srinagar to mark the party’s 26th foundation day, Mufti asserted that people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir want peace with dignity and they will “interfere” in foreign policy matters when it comes to Pakistan.
She urged New Delhi to view and listen to the people of Jammu and Kashmir “with your hearts” and unless they do so, the India-Pakistan “issue will not get resolved”. “I want to tell the Government of India that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not your enemies. We want peace with dignity. We want peace through friendship, not war,” Mufti said addressing party workers.
“You sent delegations across the world to talk about what happened during Operation Sindoor, in Pahalgam, and what is happening in Kashmir. It is Kashmir that faced hardships during the conflict. So if a Kashmiri does not demand dialogue with Pakistan, who else will?” Mufti asked.
Mufti asked the Modi government to take the path of reconciliation. “If our country has to move forward, then stop ranting about war and talk about dialogue with Pakistan. If you want to prove your mettle in the world and overcome China, then enter a dialogue and take the path of reconciliation,” she said.
Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir has been a huge challenge for all the Indian prime ministers until now, Mufti said she is not reluctant to say that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi so wills, “he can resolve the Kashmir issue because he has been elected by 120 crore people”. “Modi has the power. He went to Lahore uninvited, no one questioned him,” she said.
Mufti said whenever the people of Jammu and Kashmir talk about peace and dialogue with Pakistan, they are told not to interfere in the India’s foreign policy. “I want to tell Delhi what India’s foreign policy is without Jammu and Kashmir. We had war, it caused destruction. I want to tell the government that we will interfere in the foreign policy and ask you to become the Big Brother because your war is fought in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
The PDP chief also asked the Indian government to desist from a “weapons race” with Pakistan and focus on the country’s pressing issues. “There is another war now — whether India buys more weapons or Pakistan,” she claimed.
“In India, we provide free ration to 80 crore people. Our schools do not have fans or proper buildings, our hospitals do not have doctors, but we have to hoard the latest weapons and missiles because we have to go to war,” she said.
