Srinagar (NVI): Political leaders, who met a delegation of 15 envoys here, told them that they have seen enough “bloodshed” and now “want to become part of the solution, not the problem”.
The envoys from various countries, including the US, were on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday to assess the ground situation. This was the first visit by foreign diplomats since abolition of the J&K’s special status on August 5 last year.
The delegation met some political leaders, who included former state Finance Minister Altaf Bukhari.
“We expressed whatever pain we felt after abrogation of Article 370. We told several things they want to clear about. We spoke facts and problems Kashmiris are going through,” said Bukhari, a former PDP leader.
“There will be more political activities once the jailed political leaders are released,” he said.
Chief of Democratic National Front Ghulam Hassan Mir said they held an interactive session with the delegates.
“They wanted to know what happened after abrogation of Article 370. Abrogation of Article 370 was a shock but the government of India managed it in a way that there was no bloodshed,” Mir claimed.
“Government of India used to say that Article 370 was a hurdle for development. The ball is now in their court to prove this claim. We told them concerned of people post August 5,” he added.
Javid Ahmad Beigh, former PDP legislator, said they raised the issue pertaining to demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and facilitation of talks between India and Pakistan.
“Peace is not possible unless there are friendly relations and dialogue between India and Pakistan. We also told them how Kashmiris are suffering in the absence of the internet. We also asked about protection in jobs and land. We raised all issues concerning common people,” Beigh said.
PDP leaders Rafi Ahmad Mir, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Abdul Majeed Paddar, Abdul Rahim Rather, and Congress leaders Shoib Lone were also part of the delegations.
Youth political leaders Tauseef Raina, Junaid Mir also met them along with their delegations.
Tauseef said, “We told them dialogue is a must to resolve all the problems. We told them there is no space for extremism. We have seen bloodshed and want to become part of solution, not the problem.”
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster was also among the envoys from 15 other countries who arrived in Srinagar on Thursday.
The delegation also included diplomats from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Norway, Maldives, South Korea, Morocco, Brazil, and Nigeria. They were first taken to Badamibagh cantonment where they met top Army officers. A source said that Army officers briefed them about the overall security situation in Kashmir.
Following the briefing, they met several politicians and civil society groups at Hotel Lalit, Srinagar, on the banks of Dal Lake. The UT administration had made strict security arrangements. Gupkar Road was also sealed.
The envoys are scheduled to meet Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Friday in Jammu.
Some lesser-known civil society groups, singers, activists also met the visiting delegations.
In October last year, a delegation of EU MPs had visited J&K, a move for which the Centre had come under fierce criticism from Opposition leaders who were not allowed to visit the Valley. The government had distanced itself from the visit of the delegation and claimed it was a “private visit”. According to media reports, Australia and EU members don’t want a guided tour of the Union Territory and want to “meet people freely”.
