Kashmiri youths in PoK wants to return, lead normal life: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Apr 8 (UNI) Kashmiri youths in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other parts of Pakistan wanted to return back here and lead a normal life, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said today.

''A number of Kashmiri youths on other side of the border met me during my recent visit to attend Pugwash conference and expressed their desire to join their families once again here'', Ms Mehbooba told reporters here.

She said the youths had now shun the path of violence and were doing some pitty works there for survival in PoK and Pakistan.

Ms Mehbooba said her PDP had taken the matter with the Central government and now she had discussed this human issue with the leaders of Pakistan, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharief.

This was entire a humanitarian issue now as the youths, who had gone over to other side in the nineties, wanted to rejoin their families once again.

Both India and Pakistan should find a way out for their honourable return, she added.

She rubbished the apprehensions expressed by some agencies that the youths, after their return, would indulge in violence. She said, ''They are not a security threat but their return can be the biggest Confidence Building Measure (CBM)''.

Ms Mehbooba said that during her meeting with Mr Sharief, she had urged him to facilitate their return to their homes.

Thousands of Kashmiri youths had crossed over to PoK in late Eighties and early nineties for receiving arms training there.

UNI BAS PK SSC1601