SRINAGAR: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday called for a permanent ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and immediate relief measures for residents affected by cross-border shelling in north Kashmir’s Tangdhar sector.
During a visit to the shell-impacted areas, Mufti met displaced families and assessed damage to residential properties. She said residents continue to face the brunt of hostilities despite never choosing war.
“People here live amid fear and destruction. Many homes are damaged internally, but officials have failed to assess the losses properly. The current compensation of Rs 1.2 lakh is inadequate,” she said.
Mufti was accompanied by party leaders including General Secretary Abdul Haq Khan, MP Kupwara Mir Fayaz, MLA Pulwama Waheed Para, District President Kupwara, and other senior functionaries.
She demanded increased compensation, housing support, individual bunkers for each family, and a formal rehabilitation package. “If banks refuse insurance claims citing war conditions, the area should be formally declared a war zone with appropriate relief provided,” she said.
Mufti criticised both India and Pakistan for the situation and said the people of border areas are being forced to demand bunkers instead of schools or hospitals.
Commenting on the government’s diplomatic outreach through Operation Sindoor, she welcomed the international delegations but said a special session of Parliament should have been convened to debate the issue internally.
“Diplomacy must take precedence over conflict. It’s the only effective way forward,” she said.
