Mehbooba Mufti said long-term peace and stability in Jammu & Kashmir can only be achieved through healing, dialogue, and comprehensive support for the youth and the economy. 

J&K PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has  urged the Union Home Minister and the National Security Advisor to acknowledge the shortcomings in their approach and adopt a more compassionate outreach towards youth in J&K. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the alarming trend of educated individuals, including doctors being drawn into extremist activities is a clear indication of the Central Government’s policy failure in Jammu & Kashmir.

“They must accept their mistakes. Embrace the people, reach out to the youth, and rebuild trust,” she said while expressing deep concern over recent terror related developments which came to fore post Delhi blast. Mehbooba Mufti emphasized that J&K’s young generation is feeling increasingly alienated and needs to be brought closer through engagement, empathy, and opportunities. She called for a special economic package to compensate for losses suffered over the years and to revive key sectors of the region.

According to her, long-term peace and stability in Jammu & Kashmir can only be achieved through healing, dialogue, and comprehensive support for the youth and th economy. Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep concern over what she said  growing disconnect between the youth of Jammu & eKashmir and the region’s political leadership. She was speaking at the “Kath Baath” , an interactive youth programme held at  Raj Bagh.  She said that Kashmiri youth are becoming distant from their own local leaders much  before they are alienated from New Delhi.

Referring to the recent Delhi blasts and involvement of Kashmiri medical professionals, Mehbooba Mufti said that the situation reflects the deeper challenges and pressures faced by young people in the region. She emphasized that both political and religious leadership in J&K must take greater responsibility in understanding and addressing the grievances of the youth.

Pertinently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah few days back asserted that what happened in Baisaran and in Delhi was a sufficient wake-up call, he said “that we will realize the gravity of what we’re dealing with.” He added that the recent terror incidents have effectively led the country to draw a “line in the sand”, declaring that any similar attack in the future “will be considered an act of war” Abdullah suggested that this sharp escalation makes it even more critical to ensure such attacks do not happen again, adding that the Delhi blast’s apparent domestic origin was the only “saving grace”, as it prevented the Government from having to immediately enact what he termed the “Modi doctrine on internal security”, a response that was narrowly avoided due to the lack of a visibly “external hand”.