Stone-pelting, chants for freedom don't reflect sentiment of Kashmir's youth, says Union Minister VK Singh

Shimla: Days after the Pulwama terror attack, union minister and former Army chief VK Singh has said that Kashmir is an issue of proxy war and the rise of terrorist activities in South Kashmir post 2012 needs an analysis.

"The same South Kashmir was very peaceful between 2005 and 2012. What's the reason for the surge in incidents there after 2012? Have you analysed this? Why did this happen?" he said while addressing a press conference on Monday.

File photo of Union Minister VK Singh. Image Courtesy: Facebook

Singh, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, said, "The Kashmir issue is not simple. It's an issue of proxy war. It's an issue for which things should have been done earlier. Don't judge success or failure of a policy, based on one incident. There was an encounter, where an officer and three jawans died. This doesn't mean the situation is bad."

Talking at length about Kashmir and the problems plaguing the region, the Minister said, “Some youth being paid to throw stones, some youth standing on the top of a vehicle and shouting 'hum kya chahte, azaadi' (what do we want, freedom) does not reflect the sentiment of the entire youth of Kashmir. A great amount (of work) is being done out there and more can be done."

Responding to questions on the Centre's plan of action following a dastardly terror attack in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF soldiers on 14 February and four army personnel, including a Major, in an encounter with terrorists on 18 February, Singh said, "The youth has been engaged earlier and will be engaged in future also. There are many things required to be done in Kashmir and there are many being done. Some have succeeded, some have not. I am positive that the government is ensuring that this issue is looked at very seriously."

The Minister hinted at the rift created in the state by parties which had support either from the Valley or the Jammu region, and said that it should be seen if policies were an overall failure or mistakes of a few gave a boost to terrorists.

After a nearly 20-hour fierce gun battle between terrorists and security forces in Pulwama, three Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives, four Army personnel, including a Major, and a civilian were killed on Monday.

This incident came after a CRPF convoy, moving from Jammu to Srinagar, was attacked by a suicide bomber in Pulwama’s Lethpora area on the national highway on 14 February, killing 40 para-military soldiers.

Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack.