Foreign dignitaries’ J&K visits curated after 2019: Mehbooba Mufti
KINS Desk
Srinagar, Aug 20 (KINS): PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday criticised the manner in which foreign dignitaries visit Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that their tours have become “curated” since 2019.
Mufti said that before 2019, foreign ambassadors visiting J&K would meet people from different sections of society, including representatives of tourism, trade and travel.
“But after 2019, the tours of these foreign dignitaries are curated. They come, meet the Chief Minister, meet the Governor, go for a shikara ride and leave,” she said, according to news agency KINS.
Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Srinagar, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described Jammu and Kashmir as “an important part of India”. Gor also indicated that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and consider greater economic engagement with the region.
Mehbooba agreed with Abdullah that the issues of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by Washington and said New Delhi would have to address them.
“I agree with Omar Sahib that the issues of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by America. New Delhi will have to resolve them,” she said.
However, she criticised Abdullah for not using the US ambassador’s visit to raise concerns of the people of J&K, including issues related to security operations, arrests, job terminations, raids and property attachments.
“These are issues that Omar Sahib can talk about. There is no need to talk to Washington about these,” she said.
Recalling the tenure of her father, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she said his government had pursued dialogue and reconciliation with different stakeholders, including Pakistan.
She urged Abdullah to similarly persuade New Delhi to address issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
On Gor’s indication that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and increase economic engagement, she said she hoped the move would benefit the region, particularly through employment-generating sectors.
“If they engage here in horticulture and handicrafts, which can create jobs and benefit us economically, I think that needs to be looked at,” she said.
Reacting to Gor’s description of J&K as an “important part of India”, Mufti said the US should not be taken too seriously.
She said America was not in a position to “certify” India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, adding, “They are not our masters that they have to give us a certificate before anything can be said.”
