Srinagar, Mar 16, KNT: In a blistering criticism of the armed forces, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Additional General Secretary of the National Conference, on Saturday accused the Army and security forces of being a major roadblock to peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to reporters outside the Legislative Assembly in Jammu, Kamal claimed that the continued presence and actions of security personnel have hampered the return of normalcy in the region.
“Army and paramilitary forces have been involved in heinous crimes including the killing of civilians. How can civilian killings ever be justified? The fact is, the Army doesn’t want peace in Kashmir—for reasons everyone knows,” Kamal asserted.
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He reiterated his party’s long-standing opposition to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), describing it as a draconian law that has failed to serve its purpose in the Valley. Kamal urged the Central Government to revoke AFSPA, at least from areas where peace has been restored. “If the Army itself claims peace has returned, then why resist the law’s withdrawal?” he questioned.
Kamal further dismissed the notion that AFSPA is crucial to maintaining security. “Militants can strike with or without AFSPA. So the argument that this law ensures peace is flawed,” he said, emphasizing that peace and accountability must go hand in hand.
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When asked about the Congress party’s silence on the contentious law, Kamal praised Prof. Saifuddin Soz for taking up the issue with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. “This may be the first time a Congress leader from J&K supported the NC’s stand on AFSPA. Both our parties agree it must go,” he added.
On the recent attack on CRPF personnel in Srinagar, Kamal speculated it may have been an isolated incident, carried out by remnants of a militant group attempting to sabotage the peace process. “This might be the last such strike, and the threat will likely fade,” he remarked.
Dr Kamal’s comments once again bring the AFSPA debate to the fore, highlighting the widening divide between political leadership and military authorities over the future of Kashmir’s security framework. [KNT]
