Srinagar
Without directly referring to separatists, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed to them to take advantage of New Delhi’s offer of unconditional dialogue.

Welcoming the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as the New Delhi’s representative to initiate dialogue on the Kashmir issue, Mehbooba said, “There are no bars, no conditions and doors are open from both sides on dialogue. I hope stakeholders here will take the advantage of the opportunity and will also contribute in the dialogue process so that J&K will be brought out of the present crisis situation.”

The Chief Minister said if the Government of India had taken one step on dialogue, “we and other stakeholders” also have to take a step to move forward to bring J&K out of the present situation. “This gives me hope that stakeholders would have the concern to bring J&K out of the present situation,” Mehbooba told reporters here in a hurriedly convened press conference.

Mehbooba said the initiation of the political process was the need of the hour and the only way to go forward on Kashmir. Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and particularly Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who, she said, made efforts for initiation of talks, dialogue, and reconciliation in J&K.

“Today, ultimately something has started. It is a confidence-building measure (CBM) and a good start,” she said. The Chief Minister said people of J&K had got fed up with the present situation in Kashmir. Asked whether the National Investigation Agency (NIA) action on separatists and some businessman would make the dialogue announcement credible, she said the security measures and political process were separate issues. “The political process is a different thing and it has started. It is needed in J&K.