For dialogue, Pakistan must stop infiltration on border: Mehbooba

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday asked Pakistan to stop cross-border infiltration to create an environment conducive for peace talks.

"Pakistan has to understand that the two countries share the border and to bring peace in the region, start a dialogue, the infiltration must stop," Mehbooba said addresing a police function here.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader said the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would be removed from the Kashmir Valley over a period of time only after militancy stops in the state.

"We have to remove the AFSPA. But we need support for that. We can do it in intervals but the militancy has to stop," she said.

Mehbooba Mufti also came out strongly against stone-pelting protesters in the valley saying it won't resolve the Kashmir issue.

--IANS

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