Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasised that “political solutions for the problems besetting” the state have to be worked out on a pragmatic basis.
“Political discussions are inescapable if a lasting and enduring solution to the problem of militancy in the State is to be achieved.
“I would, therefore, once again emphasise that political solutions for the problems besetting Jammu and Kashmir have to be worked out on a pragmatic basis,” he said while addressing the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security here.
Mr. Omar said most of internal security problems were rooted in politics.
“As a matter of fact, even armed insurgencies are essentially struggles for political space. It has been realised over a period of time that issues involving contrary positions can never be resolved through violent agitation and confrontation,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the most obvious approach would be to seek appropriate political solutions for political problems.
“A timely political solution to a problem would ensure that it does not balloon into a full-fledged law and order or internal security situation. I would, therefore, suggest that this Conference should also focus on the strategic aspects relating to internal security,” Mr. Omar said.
He said while attention is being paid to the basic infrastructure, skill up-gradation, proper equipment, such a focus on the “nuts and bolts” of policing should not undermine the importance of tackling and solving the fundamental political issues which underpin internal security.
The Chief Minister said while there has been improvement in the security situation of the state because of steady decline in terror incidents, the street violence has increased.
He lauded the “synergy” and “close cooperation” between armed forces, the central paramilitary forces and the State police for the continuous improvement in the security situation in the State. He, however, cautioned that strict vigil must continue to be enforced all along frontiers and all attempts of infiltration must be neutralised.
The prolonged unrest in Kashmir Valley in the summer of 2010 resulted in the loss of many innocent lives, enormous human and economic losses, closure of functioning on almost all fronts and the irreparable disruption of the entire education system, Mr. Omar said.
“Irrespective of the causes which led to this turmoil, the events of the last summer have been most painful and saddening. The involvement of the anti-social elements and the exploitation of youth, particularly the young boys, in aggravating the law and order situation was a tactical ploy of the separatists to keep the situation abnormal,” he said.
Mr. Omar said dealing with such law and order problems in general and with the stone-throwing in particular, required a completely different approach on the part of the police.
He asked the Centre to provide help in form of protective gear for policemen and standard operating procedures to deal with such stone-throwing incidents.
The Chief Minister said the State has one of the highest police-population ratio in the country which needs more funds.
“I would request the Union Home Ministry to allocate additional financial resources for meeting the expenditure incurred for raising and maintaining the additional manpower for a much longer period of time,” he said.
Mr. Omar said two committees have been constituted to examine and recommend the areas from which the Armed Forces Special Powers Act could be withdrawn.
“The committees have been directed to submit their recommendations at the earliest,” he said.
