Srinagar, Aug 20: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday criticised the manner in which foreign dignitaries visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying their tours have become “curated” since 2019 and do not provide them an opportunity to hear different sections of society.
Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Srinagar, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described Jammu and Kashmir as “an important part of India”. Gor also indicated that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and consider greater economic engagement with the region.
“This is not the first time that an ambassador, particularly from the United States, has come to Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti said. “The difference is that before 2019, whenever ambassadors came here, they would meet people from every section of society.”
She said representatives from tourism, trade, travel and other sections of society were previously consulted by foreign dignitaries before they returned.
“But after 2019, the tours of these foreign dignitaries are curated. They come, meet the Chief Minister, meet the Governor, go for a shikara ride and leave,” she said.
Mufti agreed with Abdullah’s position that the problems of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by Washington.
“I agree with Omar Sahib that the issues of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by America. New Delhi will have to resolve them,” she said.
However, she criticised the Chief Minister for not using the ambassador’s visit to raise concerns of the people of J&K.
“I expected Omar Sahib at least to tell the ambassador from America about the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, referring particularly to US military action in Iran and its impact on Muslim countries.
Mufti also said Abdullah should have raised issues within Jammu and Kashmir that, in her view, require the intervention of New Delhi.
She referred to alleged harassment during security operations in Pulwama and said, “We have thousands of our people in jails. Every day people are removed from jobs. Raids are conducted every day. Properties are attached and there is a kind of suffocation in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“These are issues that Omar Sahib can talk about. There is no need to talk to Washington about these,” she said.
Mufti also invoked the tenure of her father, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, saying his government had pursued dialogue and reconciliation with different stakeholders.
“When Mufti Sahib persuaded the Vajpayee government, a process of reconciliation was started. There was dialogue here. There was dialogue with every section. There was also dialogue with Pakistan. Routes were opened,” she said.
She urged Abdullah to similarly persuade New Delhi to address issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
On Gor’s indication that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and increase economic engagement, Mufti said the move could benefit the region if it focused on employment-generating sectors.
“I hope they will review it. And he said that we will engage more economically with Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
“If they engage here in horticulture and handicrafts, which can create jobs and benefit us economically, I think that needs to be looked at,” she added.
Gor’s description of J&K as an “important part of India” also drew a sharp response from Mufti.
“I don’t think we need to take America so seriously,” she said.
“Wherever America has intervened in the world, it has brought destruction, from Vietnam to Iran,” she said, adding that the US was not in a position to certify India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir.
“They are not our masters that they have to give us a certificate before anything can be said,” Mufti said.
