Talk of revoking AFSPA encourages violence in Kashmir: Activist

Condemning Pakistan's intervention into the internal affairs of India and its encouragement to violence in Kashmir, activist Susheel Pandit on Sunday said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should realise that any talk of revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) only goes on to encourage violence.

"It is correct that Pakistan's intervention into the internal affairs of India and its encouragement to violence in Kashmir should be repudiated and condemned in strongest terms. But at the same time, Mehbooba Mufti should realize that any talk of revoking AFSPA only goes on to encourage this kind of tendency and violence within Kashmir as much as it demoralizes the security forces who are faced with a tough situation there," Pandit told ANI.

Mufti earlier today said the process of revoking the AFSPA can be started on experimental basis.

"We are not saying that AFSPA must be revoked immediately and in entirety, but the process can be started on an experimental basis. After revoking the AFSPA in few areas, we can assess the situation there. If successful we can revoke it in entirety. If the militancy doesn't give permission for it then we can again impose it," Mehbooba told ANI.

Lashing out at Pakistan, Mehbooba urged the neighbouring nation to change its policy towards India.

"Pakistan punishes children who take up guns in their country, but glorifies youth taking up guns in Kashmir. I think Pakistan should change this policy. The goodwill gesture that our Prime Minister had started by going to Lahore is the only way," she added.

She further stated that if the situation turns bad in Jammu and Kashmir then even Pakistan should understand that Islam is getting a bad name in the whole nation.