Any initiative in Kashmir only after normalcy restored: Omar

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 2nd August, 2010

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said there was a 'consensus' in the central and state governments that any initiative in the troubled state, political or administrative, can only take place after normalcy is restored.

'The consensus that emerged was that a prerequisite for any sort of initiative in the state, be it political or administrative, will require a restoration or semblance of normalcy,' Abdullah told reporters here after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

'Tragically, we have lost ourselves in a cycle of violence where protests lead to death, leading to further protests leading to further casualties. The cycle of violence must end,' he said.

Abdullah said the problem of Kashmir was a political one, and therefore would require a political package. He said that the initiatives could be related to the 'footprint' of the security forces, return of young men from across the border and the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

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