Mehbooba accuses China of meddling in Kashmir
We cannot fight this war alone. We need backing of the country and all political parties to emerge victorious MEHBOOBA MUFTI, J&K CM
NEWDELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday accused China of meddling in the troubled state that has recently witnessed a spike in violence.
The chief minister was speaking to reporters emerging from a meeting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh with whom she discussed the security situation in the state. She said the crisis in Kashmir is not a mere lawand-order problem, adding the fight is against foreign powers.
Earlier it was Pakistan but now there are reports of China meddling in the Kashmir affairs, she said. “We cannot fight this war alone. We need backing of the whole country and all political parties to emerge victorious,” Mehbooba said.
Mufti has earlier blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the state, but this is for the first time she pointed the finger at China.
Her meeting with the home minister in the wake of the attack on Amarnath pilgrims on July 10, in which seven persons died, lasted for almost an hour after it commenced at 11.30am.
“Ensuring security of Amarnath Yatra obviously topped the agenda of the meeting,” said an aide to the home minister.
Meanwhile, three militants were killed in an encounter raging on in the forests of Tral in south Kashmir, a senior police officer told HT.
The militants are believed to be members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and according to the police, were planning a major attack on army and police.
Militants have stepped up attacks in recent months on government forces in the state as counter-insurgency operations intensify.
Saturday’s meeting also came a day after the home minister briefed top opposition leaders on the situation in the valley and steps taken to ensure better security for the Amarnath pilgrims. The opposition has slammed the government for failing to ensure security of Amarnath Yatris.