Pakistan's role isn’t Pak (pure) in relation to Kashmir, they need to change: Rajnath Singh

Appealing to people in Kashmir to help restore normalcy, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based, even as he warned Pakistan not to interfere in India’s internal affairs.

Sending a strong message to Pakistan, Rajnath also said the neighbouring country should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to the state after holding talks with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and several delegations both in Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath said the Centre will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state.

“As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don’t just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir,” he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state.

Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, “its role has not been ‘paak’ (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir.”

Asking people to give their “constructice suggestions” to bring peace in the state, he said, “There is no need of any third force to improve the situation in Kashmir.”

Singh hit out at Pakistan, which he said is itself affected by terrorism and to end it on one hand it is killing terrorists after entering the Lal Masjid, while on the other it is asking our youth in Kashmir to take to arms.

“This must stop,” he said. Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting,

Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives.

Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 resulting in 45 deaths.