Conflict

Ready to talk to all sections in Kashmir including Hurriyat, says Ram Madhav

Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Ram Madhav has said that the Government of India is willing to have a political dialogue with every section in Kashmir, including the Hurriyat.

He also added that New Delhi’s decision to invoke a temporary ceasefire in the Valley during Ramzan was a goodwill gesture but warned that if militancy persists, the government forces will have to respond appropriately.

“The government has made arrangements to talk to all sections of the society in the Kashmir valley. Government is willing to have open political negotiations with different sections, including Hurriyat. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is a different matter,” Madhav told CNN News 18. 

While responding to a question that Hurriyat has said that the talks won’t be fruitful if Pakistan is not on board Madhav said, “Government stand is we are ready to talk to all sections in the Kashmir valley, including Hurriyat. Our interlocutor is already working on that. There can be other arrangements also. As far as Pakistan is concerned that is a different issue, that call will be taken on a different level.”

He also reiterated that the ceasefire would continue only if the militancy ceases. He said that in the last two to two-and-a-half years, the government forces had managed to neutralise more than 600 militants.

“Earlier, the forces were pursuing a hard-line agenda in the Valley to neutralise terrorists vigorously. But, keeping the sacredness of Ramzan in mind, as a gesture of goodwill, the government had asked forces to suspend operations,” Madav said.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh will begin his two day visit to the valley from 7 June, during which he will review the suspension of operations in Ramzan and also meet those affected by cross-border shelling.

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