Reacting on army chief Gen Bipin Rawat’s unconditional dialogue remark with Taliban, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday questioned New Delhi for using different yardsticks for talks in Kashmir.
“We bat for talks with Taliban, autonomy for Tibet & Tamil areas of Sri Lanka yet we are unwilling to look at engagement or political initiatives in J&K. Why is our policy all about “do as we say, don’t do as we do”? Engagement for Taliban, Operation All-Out for Kashmir,” tweeted Omar.
We bat for talks with taliban, autonomy for Tibet & Tamil areas of Sri Lanka yet we are unwilling to look at engagement or political initiatives in J&K. Why is our policy all about “do as we say, don’t do as we do”? Engagement for Taliban, Operation All-Out for Kashmir. https://t.co/7PMDfWWN4C
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 9, 2019
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the army chief for using different yardsticks for a dialogue in Kashmir.
“If the Army Chief can advocate for talks with Taliban then why different standards when it comes to our own people?” she asked in a tweet. “Accept peace offer from Pakistan, initiate dialogue with Hurriyat and other stakeholders (to) put an end to the vicious cycle of violence in J&K.”
If the Army Chief can advocate for talks with Taliban then why different standards when it comes to our own people? Accept peace offer from Pakistan, initiate dialogue with Hurriyat and other stakeholders put an end to the vicious cycle of violence in J&K. https://t.co/4NJlmvyPVX
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 9, 2019
Earlier today, Gen Rawat, during his speech at a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, said there should be negotiations with the Taliban, but without any conditions.
