National Conference on Tuesday said the ensuing Balochistan narrative of a tit-for-tat one-upmanship between India and Pakistan was dangerous and primarily inimical to the prospects of peace and stability in the sub-continent in general and Kashmir in particular. NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said the current narrative of hostility and acrimony between New Delhi and Islamabad was diametrically and dramatically opposite to what PDP had promised viz-a-viz a sustained dialogue between the two neighbours – a smoke-screen marketed as an alleged ‘cornerstone’ of its opportunistic and unholy alliance with the BJP.“Today at a time when Kashmir is in dire need of a reconciliatory approach internally and a cooperative approach between India and Pakistan, New Delhi has turned the narrative into a tit-for-tat political point-scoring while the Valley continues to simmer with the fresh spate of killings. Both Late Mufti Sahab and then Mehbooba Mufti had claimed their alliance with the BJP would become a reason for the BJP-led Central Government to engage in dialogue with Pakistan for the resolution of all outstanding issues, especially the issue of Kashmir. Ironically while PDP continues to be driven by the spoils of political power in the midst of mourning and grief in the Valley, New Delhi and Islamabad are drifting farther away from each other than they have at any point in the recent past”, the NC Provincial President said in a statement issued to KNS.
The NC Provincial President said the same PDP that had promised to facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan is today led by a Chief Minister who wastes no opportunity to rebuke and ridicule Pakistan while endorsing a hawkish narrative that comes at a great disadvantage to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “What is happening in Kashmir today can be attributed neither to Pakistan nor to radicalization. Mehbooba Mufti is well aware of this reality. That she chooses to lie again and again to distort the narrative is a reflection on her lack of integrity and honesty”, the NC Provincial President added.“It’s tragic that New Delhi is being encouraged by its alliance partner – the PDP – to talk about Balochistan rather than address the current unrest in Kashmir that has resulted in the loss of more than sixty young lives till now. The spectre of brutality and strife continues while the Prime Minister, cushioned by a pliant and apologetic Chief Minister in Srinagar chooses to look westward towards Balochistan rather than show empathy and solidarity towards Kashmir. PDP MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig’s anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim remarks on behalf of his party during the All Party Meeting in New Delhi seems to have encouraged this hawkish, insensitive approach towards Kashmir”, Nasir Aslam Wani further said.Expressing profound grief and sorrow over the fresh spate of killings in the Valley, the NC Provincial President expressed alarm over the worsening situation and said both the Central and State Governments cannot absolve themselves of their responsibility to the prevent loss of lives and address the growing alienation. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and express our solidarity with them in their hour of inconsolable loss and grief. The situation in the Valley is grave and tragic”, the NC Provincial President added. (KNS)