Mehbooba Mufti slams Centre for additional troops deployment in Kashmir

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday described Kashmir as a “political problem” which would not be solved by military means. Mehbooba, the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said the Centre needs to “rethink and overhaul its Kashmir policy.” "Centre’s decision to deploy additional 10,000 troops to the valley has created fear psychosis amongst people. There is no dearth of security forces in Kashmir. J&K is a political problem which won’t be solved by military means. GOI needs to rethink & overhaul its policy,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

Centre has decided to move over 10,000 troops to Jammu and Kashmir. The comes after National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval returned from two-day visit to the valley. This was Doval’s first visit to Kashmir after Narendra Modi-led BJP government returned to power for the second term in May. Home Ministry order says the additional forces are being deployed to strengthen "counter insurgent grid."

''In order to strengthen the central intelligence grid as well as for maintaining law and order situations in Jammu & Kashmir, deployment of additional 100 companies of central armed police forces as per details mentioned below are ordered,'' said a Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) order. 

Recently, around 40,000 additional central paramilitary forces were brought in for Amarnath Yatra security. The Centre decided to deploy about central paramilitary and state police personnel to secure the 46-day yatra that began from July 1 from the twin route -- traditional Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and shortest Baltal track in Ganderbal district. It will conclude on August 15, the day Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated in the country.