Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said Union Minister Amit Shah's statement on AFSPA revocation and troop withdrawal from Jammu and Kashmir was a constructive step.
She added that this was an important part of the party's Agenda of Alliance (AoA), which she claimed was wholeheartedly agreed upon by the BJP during the government formation of a coalition government after 2014.
Mehbooba said that one can only hope that the government at the Centre would meet its pledge, at least in this situation, because it would provide significant relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Only time will tell whether this statement meant its objective or if was it just a bluff to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir false hope.
Mehbooba said on microblogging site X "The PDP has continuously sought the repeal of the harsh AFSPA, as well as the gradual withdrawal of soldiers.
It also established a key component of our Alliance's Agenda, which the BJP fully agreed to. Der aayee durust. Better late than never, but only if it isn't Jumlebaazi, such as creating two crore employment each year or making bogus pledges to deposit 15 lacs into bank accounts."
She said, "One can only hope that they fulfil their commitment at least in this case since it would bring a huge relief to the people of J&K."
She then added, "To walk the talk, perhaps MHA can start by releasing journalists & thousands of young Kashmiri boys currently languishing in jails without any charges or prosecution.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre will consider abolishing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir and that it has a plan to reduce military deployment from the Union Territory.
In an interview, Shah said that the government will consider abolishing AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The situation is getting normal and we are speedily considering revoking the AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and a state of change is being considered," the official said.
Although Mehbooba agreed that this was the need of the hour, she took a jibe at the centre while referring to their previous unfulfilled promises.
Some security experts believe India lacks ordinance and manpower in case of potential conflict with China.
The need to fortify border positions along Arunachal Pradesh and eastern Ladakh has become a challenge for the Indian security apparatus.
Others believe that the troop withdrawal announcement from the valley could be because of the evolving China-India standoff at LOC and that AFSPA removal execution from the valley remains to be seen.
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