Govt's muscular militaristic approach won't solve Kashmir problems: Congress leader Chidambaram

Rajnath Singh has said that India had shown it can attack its enemies not only on its soil, but also in a foreign territory, if need be.

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New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday said the government's "muscular militaristic approach" won't help in solving problems in Kashmir.

He also came out in support of Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra for saying that the rules of engagement for handling conflicts calls for restraint.

"The fundamental flaw is the belief that a muscular militaristic approach will lead to a solution in Kashmir," Chidambaram tweeted.

"Governor Vohra is absolutely right when he said that rules of engagement for handling internal conflicts called for 'restraint', he added.

The former home minister also hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for saying that people in her state "are fleeing their homes, schools are closed and children are caged in their homes".

"Did she not know this will be the result of a misguided policy?" Chidambaram asked. 

1. "In our state, people are fleeing their homes, schools are closed and children are caged in their homes" says J&K CM. Did she not know this will be the result of a misguided policy? — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 22, 2018

2. The fundamental flaw is the belief that a muscular militaristic approach will lead to a solution in Kashmir. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 22, 2018

3. Governor Vohra is absolutely right when he said that rules of engagement for handling internal conflicts called for "restraint". — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 22, 2018

On January 7, 2018, too, he had hit out at the Centre for failing to restore peace in the Kashmir Valley and had said that Modi government`s "hard, muscular and militaristic" approach had failed to end militancy in the state.

Chidambaram had quoted statistics to say that the number of civilians and terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir had almost doubled from 28 to 57 and from 110 to 218 from 2014 to 2017 respectively.

"If you are one of those who had thought that the hard, muscular, militaristic approach of the government should be given a chance, you may change your view," he had said.

The Congress had leader added that wisdom lay in actively working towards a political solution to the issues of J&K, where a separatist campaign raging since 1989 has claimed thousands of lives.

"Both AB Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh will be remembered for the diligent efforts to find a solution to the issue", Chidambaram had said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that India had shown it can attack its enemies not only on its soil, but also in a foreign territory, if need be.

"A few months ago, Pakistan, in an act of cowardice, attacked and martyred 17 of our jawans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi consulted all of us on this serious issue, and the Indian Army entered the Pakistani area and killed the militants," he had at a public meeting in Lucknow.

"India's image in the world has become that of a strong nation and we have given a strong message to the world that we can attack our enemies not only on our soil, but also in their territory. India has developed this power," Singh had added.

At the same time, he had said that India wants to maintain a friendly relationship with Pakistan. "But Pakistan is not mending its ways," Singh had said.

(With PTI inputs)