IIOJK: Mehbooba Mufti calls for united political front for dialogue with New Delhi
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged all political parties in the territory to unite on a common platform to push for dialogue with the Indian government, saying a similar united approach by Ladakh leadership had helped them to move closer to securing constitutional safeguards through sustained engagement with New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti called for revival of a collective political platform akin to the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), saying it had earlier compelled India to engage with Kashmiri leadership after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. She said political differences and electoral considerations must be set aside in favour of a joint effort to create space for engagement with Delhi. “If we all come together, we can achieve a lot,” she said.
She criticised the absence of political outreach in IIOJK after the Assembly elections, saying people had expected an elected government to work for the restoration of dignity and political rights rather than restrict itself to development issues. She said basic amenities like roads, electricity and water cannot substitute political reconciliation.
“Engagement is the only way forward. There is no alternative to dialogue,” She said. The PDP chief said people had expected the elected government to take up the issue of restoring dignity and rights, but unfortunately, a government with more than 50 MLAs failed to bring New Delhi to the negotiating table.
Referring to recent developments in Ladakh, she said its leadership had transcended regional and religious differences and maintained consistent engagement with New Delhi, ultimately moving closer to constitutional protections related to land and employment safeguards. She said the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had said that an in-principle agreement had been reached with the Indian government on providing constitutional guarantees to Ladakh under Article 371.
Mufti said the leadership of Leh and Kargil had risen above narrow interests and kept talking to the Indian government, eventually achieving progress, adding, “Jammu and Kashmir should also learn from that experience.” She appealed to all political parties to unite so that meaningful outcomes could be achieved.
She urged the Indian government to initiate confidence-building measures in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including withdrawal of troops from civilian areas and relief for detainees and affected families.
Mufti further argued that global conflicts, despite involving militarily powerful states, ultimately return to negotiations, stressing dialogue remains the only viable route to resolving political disputes. She added that instead of dialogue, New Delhi was engaging the people of IIOJK through the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), agency raids, and surveillance.
She added just as the leadership of Kargil and Leh united and struggled together, the Kashmir’s leadership can also make similar efforts. “I appeal to all political parties to unite so that something can be achieved,” she added.
It is noteworthy that the Ladakhi organizations, LAB and KDA, had launched a joint movement after Ladakh was separated from IIOJK and made a Union Territory in August 2019, demanding full statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
