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 says war is not an option. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
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.
She also tweeted the Urdu translation of the tweet an hour later.
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.
Pakistan denies hand in Kashmir 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.”
“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.
She also tweeted the Urdu translation of the tweet an hour later.
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.
Pakistan denies hand in Kashmir 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.”