J&K: Normalcy in sight as talks likely to be unconditional

Separatists have issued another calendar of protests but this time have not said that they need to raise pro-Pak slogans.

Bengaluru, Oct 27: There appears to be a resolution in sight when the Kashmir issue is concerned. Highly placed sources say that the talks with all the stakeholders in the Valley is likely to be unconditional. All parties have indicated that they want an immediate resolution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Valley has been on the boil since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

For the past one week there have been enough feelers being sent both by the government as well as the stakeholders in which a resolution to the crisis was sought. The immediate step would be to restore normalcy in the Valley.

Normal life has to be restored, a senior official informed. He also said that the security forces want to deal entirely with the external threat and as long as the Valley is on the boil, that would not be possible.

Security forces cannot focus on both the domestic as well as the external threat, the officer also informed. "Hence restoration of normalcy in the Valley becomes extremely crucial," he also informed.

Ice broken, is peace around the corner

The ice was broken following a visit by a delegation led by former external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha. The delegation called on the separatists of the Valley. Both parties indicated that the talks were cordial.

The separatists had demanded for the historical perspective of the Kashmir issue which is pending for its final resolution since 1947. Further separatists also demanded that all those arrested must be released and also cases against them must be withdrawn. The police have so far arrested 6,000 people and booked 450 under the Public Safety Act.

However, after the meeting the separatists isssued a fresh calendar of protests. As per the calendar, protests would be held between October 28 and November 3. However, this time around the separatists have not said in any of the events that prayers for Pakistan or pro-Pakistan slogans must be raised.

Experts view this as a change of stand while also adding that this could possibly be the last calendar of protests that they would be issuing.

OneIndia News