PDP demands concrete steps to solve Kashmir issue

Demanding concrete measures like initiation of unconditional dialogue, revocation of AFSPA, phased withdrawal of army from Kashmir Valley, PDP today said there was a need to look at Kashmir from a "humanitarian angle" and it should not be made a "prestige issue".

Emerging from the all-party meeting on Kashmir, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that all parties should rise above their "political interests" and find a solution to the crisis.

"People are suffering and getting killed. Kashmir has been converted into a jail. So all the political parties and the leadership of the country should rise above their political interests and come together. Let us all join hands and find a solution to the complex Kashmir problem," she said.

Mehbooba said PDP demanded that there should be an unconditional dialogue from both Centre and the separatist leaders as there should be some "real and concrete" measures to solve the issue and not "cosmetic" ones.

"We asked the prime minister to go for an unconditional dialogue because we did not put any condition and then move forward. We also said that all the youth who have been arrested under the Public Safety Act should be released," the PDP President said.

PDP also demanded lifting of "curfew....due to which the Kashmiri people are suffering from dawn to dusk".

She said people should see more a "humane face of our country. We live in a democracy. So, we need to sit together with the separatists and other parties to find a solution to the Kashmir problem.

Asked if Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah should resign, Mehbooba said "I think this is something between Congress and National Conference as they are alliance partners. They will be in a better position to answer that question."