Amnesty welcomes Centre's move to rehabilitate Pandits

An estimated 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave J&K between 1990 and 1994 due to threats and intimidation from armed groups

Amnesty International India on Tuesday welcomed the NDA government's reported move to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley but expressed concern over "insufficient" measures taken to build confidence and ensure their safety and smooth integration.

The human rights body also urged the government to hold consultations with all communities living in the state, a reference to Muslims who make up for overwhelming majority in Kashmir, in its endeavour to bring Pandits back.

"Amnesty International India welcomes the positive steps taken by the NDA government and urges it to take a comprehensive approach in implementing proposed policies, including consultations with all communities living in Jammu and Kashmir, and those looking to return there," it said in a statement. The organisation welcomes the recent overtures made to rehabilitate families of an estimated 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave the state between 1990 and 1994 due to threats and intimidation from armed groups, the statement said.

Quoting a Kashmir-based Pandit group, the organisation said despite several attempts made by the state and central governments since 2003 to persuade Pandit families to return to their homes, not a single family has returned.