Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged the Indian government to fundamentally revisit its Kashmir policy, warning that New Delhi’s reliance on raids, coercion, and pressure tactics has only deepened fear, alienation, and mistrust across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing the PDP’s executive committee meeting, Mehbooba said that while Kashmiris have long accepted a future rooted in “growth, development, and peace,” New Delhi has shut all doors of dialogue.

“There is no dialogue at all since 2019. All we see are raids, arrests, and action against innocent people. Everything is looked at only from a security point of view,” she said, urging New Delhi to “reach out to people instead of victimising them.” The PDP chief said that the absence of any political outreach had eroded the space required to “heal people’s wounds.” She urged the Indian leadership to draw inspiration from the teachings of Gandhi.

“Instead of being influenced by global war-mongering forces, the Indian government must restore trust and end the prevailing atmosphere of fear,” she said. Mehbooba urged the BJP to “feel the pain of Kashmiris, introspect, and stop communalising issues for electoral gains.” Referring to the Red Fort blast case, she said Kashmiris supported a fair and transparent probe but condemned the atmosphere in which “an entire population is made the scapegoat for the fault of a few.” 

In its resolution, the PDP reaffirmed its commitment to non-violence, dialogue, and democratic values, stressing that no ideology or grievance justifies the killing of innocents. The party demanded investigations that are transparent, honest, and dignified, cautioning against harassment in the name of inquiry.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)