Modi open to holding talks with Hurriyat leaders: Mehbooba Mufti

IOK CM says policy of reconciliation needs to be taken up instead of confrontation

Indian Occupied Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared ‘amenable to holding talks’ with stakeholders in a bid to address the deteriorating situation in the valley.
In an interview after a meeting with the premier, she stated that an atmosphere needs to be created for a dialogue.
"Talks cannot happen amid stone pelting and firing of bullets," she was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.
At the meeting, she invoked former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy on Kashmir and said the thread should be picked up from where he had left off.

"The prime minister has an intention of holding talks after the situation becomes normal," Mehbooba told reporters.
"Talks are the only option," Mehbooba said. "How long can you have a confrontation?"
"Talks with Hurriyat (Conference) had taken place when Vajpayee was the prime minister and LK Advani was the deputy prime minister. We need to start from where Vajpayee had left, otherwise there is no scope of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir improving," she said.
"Modi said he is following the footsteps of Vajpayee. His policy was reconciliation, not of confrontation," Mehbooba added.
The chief minister said the situation in Kashmir would be discussed at a meeting of the unified command tomorrow.