Mission Kashmir 2.0: Another attempt at peace in the Valley

After former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha's track II initiative, it is now the turn of Congress leader and former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyer-led team to embark on Mission Kashmir 2.0 and engage with the separatists and mainstream leaders in Kashmir.

Aiyer led five member team of Centre for Peace and Progress on Thursday called on Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at their residences and discussed Kashmir with the two separatist leaders. Later, the team held separate meetings with Jammu & Kashmir governor NN Vohra and CM Mehbooba Mufti.

Mirwaiz told the delegation that the valley has been turned into a garrison of military, paramilitary and police force, where the civilians are held hostage by them and at are at their mercy. He added that these forces enjoy complete immunity from prosecution by law.

He also noted the recent incident of using a Kashmiri youth as human shield and honouring the army officer clearly defines the GOI's perspective on Kashmir and how to deal with it.

Mirwaiz said Hurriyat believes an alternative way to resolve the dispute is through negotiations between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

The delegation also met Geelani at his residence. Geelani highlighted the incidents of human rights violations in Kashmir valley and pressed for giving people the right to chose their destiny.

Later in the evening the delegation met CM Mehbooba Mufti. "Mehbooba appreciated the initiative and informed them that she has been advocating that dialogue and peaceful means of engagement are the only way ahead to get the issues resolved," an official spokesman said.

During the meeting with governor NN Vohra, the delegation urged that a meaningful and uninterrupted dialogue with all stakeholders must be initiated without any further delay to bring about sustained normalcy in the Valley.

"Governor appreciated the initiatives of the Centre for Peace and Progress, and thanked the delegation for their valuable contribution towards the restoration of normalcy in the State," an official spokesman said.