Mehbooba seeks Pakistan's help for peace in Kashmir, vows to revoke AFSPA

Mehbooba said Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is not permanent in the state and will be revoked as soon as environment of peace and tranquility is created. Talking about the coalition government, she said PDP forged an alliance with BJP so that an atmosphere is created for the Prime Minister of India and his Pakistani counterpart to come to the table and resolve all outstanding issues.

She further said that the alliance with BJP, which has a two-third majority in the centre, will also help in resolving internal issues of the state as well. Mehbooba also urged police that local militants should not be killed in encounters, but be brought back home. "Our children who have gone into militancy, my appeal to the police is, try that they return home. Those who are missing for years, if possible, instead of killing them in encounters, if you bring them back home and if they can become a part of the mainstream. If we can hand them a bat or a ball instead of guns," Mehbooba said while addressing at the Police Commemoration Day Parade.

Amidst unrest that has left 86 civilians dead and over 10,000 others injured in security force action since July 9, the Chief Minister said that force have to do parenting rather than policing to help the youth who have been provoked by people with vested interest to protest violently on the streets.

Mehbooba also sought help of security forces so that pellet guns get banned in Kashmir valley. "I want to ban pellet guns but it is possible only if you people (security forces) support the government. Our children are always used as shields. We can't force someone to talk by throwing stones on them. If we need a dialogue, we have to stop militancy," she said.

Stressing on the need for security forces to play an important role to restore peace and normalcy in the valley, she said talks are the only way forward, but conducive atmosphere is required to engage all stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue process. "We can't force someone to talk by throwing stones at them," she said.