J&K should be first for AFSPA revocation: CM’s Advisor

Srinagar, Jun 13: Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Saturday said if the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is to be withdrawn from any part of the country, Jammu and Kashmir should be the first to see its revocation, asserting that the security situation in the region has improved significantly over the years.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme here, Wani, said J&K should be prioritised if the Centre considers revoking AFSPA anywhere in the country.
“The situation on the ground is much better now. If there is any place where the issue of revocation can be considered first, it should be Jammu and Kashmir,” Wani said.
He further said that the time had come to move beyond complaints and accusations and focus on finding a practical way forward for the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
“A lot of time has passed since members of the community left Kashmir. Successive governments, including the previous Omar Abdullah-led government, made efforts to facilitate their return. During the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a rehabilitation package was introduced through which many Kashmiri Pandit youth received employment opportunities. Transit accommodations were also established as part of the process,” he said.
The CM’s Advisor said the government wants Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland with dignity and security, describing Kashmir as their natural home. “We want the community to come back. This is their home, and we are committed to creating conditions that make their return possible,” he said.
Referring to interactions with Kashmiri Pandit groups, Wani said several conferences had been organised outside Jammu and Kashmir and that he had urged community representatives to hold such discussions within the Valley as well.
“I told them that the time for complaints has passed. We cannot continue pointing fingers at each other indefinitely. We now need to find a way forward and work out how the community wants the return process to take shape,” he said. (KNO)