By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: A day after the All-Party delegation completed its two-day visit to Kashmir, the situation in the Valley shows no sign of improving; with two more youths killed in the region taking the toll to 76 in the ongoing unrest.
For the Central government, it is clear that the rising death toll is a less worrying factor compared to the support for Kashmir from outside the valley.
A delegation of various political and religious groups from Kargil district of Ladakh on Monday met the All Party delegation, where they called for an unconditional dialogue with separatists to resolve the Kashmir issue and bring peace in the region.
The delegation, comprising of members of Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, Islamia School Kargil, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Kargil, LAHDC Kargil and Opposition Congress also rejected the much popularised union territory status for Ladakh Division. Emphasising upon the political nature of Kashmir problem, the delegation has said that Kashmir isn’t an issue of packages.
Sheikh Abdullah Jalili, member of Kargil-based religious group Islamia School which was also part of the delegation told TwoCircles.net, “We clearly put three points in front of the delegation: strengthening of Article 370, no division of Jammu and Kashmir and grant of divisional status to Ladakh region. We also called for dialogue with all stakeholders but the delegation itself was divided in its ideologies as members belonged to different political parties so it is bound to be another futile exercise.”
Around 300 km from Srinagar, a meeting of Greater Pir-Panchal Unity Forum constituted of Muslim majority districts from Kishtwar to Poonch took place on Sunday, September 4 in Jammu. Members expressed solidarity and support for the people of Kashmir at this hour of repression. The meeting also made it clear that the people of Greater Pir Panjal are also on the same page as the people of Kashmir.
Referring to the visit of the All Parties Delegation to Srinagar, the forum said, “the befitting response it received, the Governments must get the message loud and clear to understand that the people of Jammu and Kashmir mean serious business. Based on past experiences, such delegation have lost their credibility and relevance hence a realistic approach must follow, sooner than later.”
Importantly, the districts in Chenab valley and Pir Panjal region have been observing frequent shutdowns since last two months against the excessive use of force on people in Kashmir as well as for resolution of the problem.
Meanwhile, on the 60th day of unrest in Kashmir, another youth died due to pellet guns in Seer Hamdan village in Islamabad taking toll to 76. On Monday, a 17-year-old youth from frontier district of Kupwara, who had sustained serious head injury, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital Srinagar.