J&K to conduct head count of youth who crossed over to PoK

Buoyed by the Centre's support to its proposed surrender policy, Jammu and Kashmir government today said it would go for a head count to know the actual number of youths who had gone to Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) since 1990 and facilitate their return.

"Actual number of youths who had gone to PoK is not known. We will start a head count and facilitate their return here," minister of state for tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters here.

Wani, however, said the proposed policy was for the youth who had gone to PoK since 1990.

"The resettlement of Kashmiris who had gone to POK on or before 1947 is a separate issue", he said.

Union home minister P Chidambaram had yesterday said the government was ready to "welcome" Kashmiris who had gone to PoK if they were ready to return after giving up militancy.

Wani said the proposed policy is purely a rehabilitation programme for youths who are held up in PoK and want to come back to their homes and join their families.

He said the issue of return of the Kashmiri youth is to be settled between India and Pakistan, adding that the state government will play a role of facilitator.

"Modalities (for the return of the youth) will be worked by the two countries", he said.

To a question, Wani said people have taken Nepal route to return here. "We want a dignified way for them to return and join their families."