Mehbooba Mufti says dialogue with Pakistan necessary to end bloodshed

The statement comes days after Indian government blamed Pakistan for a militant attack on an army base in IoK

Chief Minister of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that war was not an option and dialogue with Pakistan was necessary to end bloodshed in the held valley.

“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,” she said on Twitter.

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.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 12, 2018

She also tweeted the Urdu translation of the tweet an hour later.

تشدد کے خاتمے کے لئے پاکستان سے بات چیت لازمی ہے ۔میں جانتی ہوں یہ کہنے پر مجھے آج شام نیوز اینکرزقوم مخالف قرار دیں گے لیکن اُسے کوئی فرق نہیں پڑتا ۔جموں و کشمیر کے لوگ مصیبت میں ہیں ،ہمیں بات چیت کرنا ہوگی اس کے بغیر کوئی دوسرا راستہ نہیں ۔

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 12, 2018

The statement comes days after the Indian government blamed Pakistan for a militant attack on an army base in the held valley that killed at least 10 people including six Indian soldiers.

On Sunday, the Foreign Office strongly rejected statements of certain Indian police and defence officials linking the country with the attack.



A day earlier, a lawmaker of the Occupied Kashmir assembly raised the slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during a session to counter the anti-Pakistan slogans of Bharatya Janata Party MLAs.

National Conference lawmaker Akbar Lone said he was “provoked” to raise the slogans.

“Yes, I said it. It is my personal view, I said it in the house and I don’t think anyone should have a problem with it,” Lone was quoted saying by the India media.

The situation in the House then became chaotic as the BJP intensified anti-Pakistan sloganeering.

National Conference spokesperson Farooq Abdullah said Lone’s statements in the assembly were “unacceptable” and the party “disowns and condemns his remark.”