Responding to the anti-militancy operations in Kashmir and disruptions by protesting youth at encounter sites, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said the people's anger was justified as the Jammu and Kashmir Government had formed an alliance with the 'communal' forces.
"The Government had promised that they will not ally with the communal forces, but Mufti Sahab did it and people can't tolerate this," Abdullah told ANI
Stressing on the need for initiation of talks with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, he said said that dialogue is the only solution to end violence in the Valley.
"How will you resolve Kashmir issue without talking to Pakistan? The two countries have to talk to each other... dialogue is the only solution to this violence," he added.
On February 18, protesting civilians from at least five villages in South Kashmir's Pulwama district hurled stones at security forces who had cordoned off Urivan, a small hamlet, for search operations, compelling them to turn back.
A day before, masked youth in summer capital of Srinagar fought pitched battles with the Jammu and Kashmir police and the CRPF, with some of them carrying placards which read "We are all OGW (overground workers)".
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Reacting to such incidents, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on February 15 said those Kashmiris supporting terrorists would be considered anti-national.
"People who have picked up arms, the local boys, if they want to continue with such acts of terrorism and display flags of ISIS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them. Our relentless operations will continue," General Rawat said while paying tribute to the bravehearts of the Handwara and Bandipora encounters.
Urging the local people to extend their support to the security forces trying to maintain peace in the Valley, Rawat said they won't be spared if they continue resorting to negative acts.
"Our idea is not kill these young boys, but to bring them into mainstream. But, if they wish to remain in this manner, we will target them with harsher measures," he warned.
General Rawat expressed his disappointment about the involvement of local people in terrorist acts, whether directly or indirectly.
He said such actions are the reason for the high number of casualties among security forces.
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