This saturday, for the first time since tensions in Kashmir broke out in July, Jammu and Kashmir State Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting teh Chief Minister presented her “three-pronged action plan” to settle the conflict in Kashmir. In her speech following the meeting Mufti supported PM Modi. She said that: ‘The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. (...) The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the State comes out of the present turmoil’. Mufti also directly targeted Pakistan for its role in the conflict, blaming the state for instigating civilians to carry out attacks.

The Chief Minister called for a dialogue between all the stakeholders who are taking part in the conflict, most significantly, the separatists and the Pakistanis. She also addressed the people of Kashmir saying ‘You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you. But please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations’. Mufti wants to see a meaningful and credible reconciliation that would include the voice of the people. She referred to the resolution process, which was initiated by the then NDA Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005. Mufti asked for an appointment of conflict interlocutors, a group of individuals ‘whom people of Kashmir trust’ and who would raise their concerns to the higher ranks. Further specificities of her plan are still unknown, but they could potentially include facilitating a visit of an all-party delegation to the Valley later next week and a possible change in Governor.

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