Pain of Kashmiris must be understood to deliver relief, says Yashwant Sinha

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former finance minister Yashwant Singh, who is leading a five-member team to Srinagar for talks with a cross section of society, including separatist leaders, said on Wednesday that there is a need to understand the pain of Kashmiris to deliver relief to them.

"I have been saying that this group is here to understand the pain of Kashmiris. We are trying to meet with every stake holders. So we met the Chamber of Commerce here and both of us have put forth our views. Now I can say that the talks were fruitful and with response we got, I can, with confidence, say that we will be able to share their pain," Sinha told reporters here.

The team includes former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah, who has served in Jammu and Kashmir, ex-Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, journalist Bharat Bhushan and activist Sushobha Barve.

More than 90 people have been killed and over 12,000 sustained pellet injuries following clashes between locals and security forces triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wan on July 8 in southern Kashmir.

Tear smoke, shell injuries across Kashmir, besides, financial losses to the Kashmir economy have already crossed over Rs 10, 000 crore (according to Kashmir Economic Alliance) and shutdown of all educational institutions has put the future of thousands of students in jeopardy.