CM Mehbooba Mufti favours abrogation of AFSPA from parts of J&K; says if successful it can be revoked in entirety

New Delhi: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday favoured a complete abrogation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir in an apparent bid to gain goodwill from the public after the widespread violence in the state following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani.

“After revoking AFSPA in few areas, we can assess the situation there. If successful we can revoke it in entirety,” CM Mufti said.

She quickly added that it does not mean AFSA should be revoked immediately and in entirety, “but the process can be started on experimental basis”.

The chief minister also slammed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the state.

Pakistan claims it is a victim of terrorism but it encourages the Kashmiri youth to take up guns, she said. “Pakistan needs to change this policy.”

She also favoured the resumption of dialogue and confident building measures between the two nations.

She said that as a goodwill gesture, PM Narendra Modi met Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif by visiting Lahore but unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot.

She accused Islamabad of being a “hypocrite”, saying “Pakistan punishes children who take up gun in their country but glorifies youth taking up gun in Kashmir.”

“We understand Pakistan herself is a victim of terrorism and that is why they had to launch Lal Masjid operation,” she added.

#WATCH: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti expresses her displeasure over glorification of Kashmiri youth who take up guns by Pakhttps://t.co/G9R9ltVJhS — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016