Amnesty to militants a welcome change: Mehbooba

SRINAGAR - The government’s decision to give amnesty to Kashmiri militants who are in Pakistan is a “welcome change”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti said Thursday after the government expressed its willingness to welcome those guerrillas who want to surrender.

“It is a welcome change,” Mufti said in a statement.

She hoped the government will consider other similar decisions that will help in winning the hearts and minds of the people in the troubled state.

“I hope other demands - like revocation of draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and demilitarization - will also be fulfilled to normalize the situation in the state,” the statement added.

“Keeping in view the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley, there was a dire need to take some more such steps to heal the wounds of the people.”