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

Srinagar, Apr 8 (UNI) Kashmiri youths in Pakistan ocupied Kashmir (PoK) and other parts of Pakistan want to return here and lead a normal life, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said.

''A number of Kashmiri youths on the 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 this afternoon.

She said the youths have now shun the path of violence and are doing some petty works there for survival in PoK and Pakistan.

Ms Mehbooba said her party had taken the matter with the Indian government and now she has discussed this human issue with the leaders of Pakistan, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

''This is entirely a human issue now as the youths, who had gone over to other side in the nineties, want to rejoin their families once again,'' she added.

The youths are eager to return to their soil, she said adding that both India and Pakistan governments should find a way out for their honourable return.

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

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

Thousands of Kashmiri youth crossed over to PoK in the late eighties and early nineties for receiving arms training there.

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