Srinagar, February 20 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) has stressed the need for a political outreach in the Valley and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan to find out a lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute.
The Group comprises civil society members across communities and regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including jurists, former civil servants academicians, journalists, businessmen and social activists.
The Group of Concerned Citizens in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “A crucial question, which stares us in the face is, why militancy is getting an upshot, instead of being brought under control, as against the claim made by the government and officials in the last few months that militancy has been wiped out.”
“The GCC feels that a mature response calls for a serious introspection on why an attack like Lethpora (Pulwama) took place. At the strategic level, there are serious questions of security lapses and intelligence failures that need to be addressed.”
“The way forward does not lie in muscle flexing and harder military methods, which ultimately contribute to more violence and add to the strength of radical groups; instead, there is need for a political outreach and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan to finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir Issue.”
The GCC expressed grave concern over the attacks by Hindu hooligans in Jammu and elsewhere on community members, particularly the Kashmiris.
Meanwhile, Awami Ittehad Party Chief, Engineer Abdur Rasheed in a statement urged India to respond positively to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan’s offer.