Srinagar:
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti has put forward a detailed proposal aimed at facilitating the return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. The proposal comes at a time when discussions around the safe return of the community have gained renewed national attention.
Mehbooba Mufti stressed that any effort to bring Kashmiri Pandits back must be rooted in reconciliation and mutual trust. She noted that while security arrangements are important, true rehabilitation goes beyond physical safety and must involve emotional healing, cultural integration, and economic support.
According to the proposal, the plan includes construction of residential clusters in secure but integrated settings, rather than isolated camps. This, she argued, would allow for community bonding and restore the social fabric of the Valley, which has historically been known for its cultural pluralism.
The former Chief Minister also suggested setting up employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for returning families, especially for youth, to ensure financial independence. Education support, health care access, and psychological counselling services were also recommended as part of a holistic rehabilitation strategy.
Mufti called on both the central and union territory governments to take the issue seriously and initiate structured dialogue with displaced families to understand their concerns and needs. She pointed out that merely announcing packages without community involvement has not yielded meaningful results in the past.
In her statement to the media, Mufti said, “The return of Kashmiri Pandits must not be turned into a political slogan. It should be a people-centric process that aims to heal wounds and restore trust.” She emphasized that creating conditions for voluntary, safe return must be the foundation of the policy.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from political circles. While some leaders welcomed the move as a positive step toward communal reconciliation, others questioned the feasibility of implementation given the current security challenges in some parts of Kashmir. Nevertheless, civil society groups and activists largely supported the idea, stating that a rights-based approach is essential for sustainable peace in the region.
This development also comes against the backdrop of recent debates around the portrayal of Kashmiri Pandit issues in films and political discourse. Mufti noted that the tragedy of the exodus should not be used to deepen divisions but to find common ground for justice and healing.
Experts in conflict resolution have praised the proposal for its balanced approach, which focuses not just on infrastructure but also on rebuilding relationships between communities. They pointed out that successful return policies in conflict regions worldwide often require community-based peacebuilding and long-term investment in human development.
If taken seriously, the proposal could serve as a foundation for a broader policy initiative aimed at restoring the Valley's pluralistic ethos and ensuring that displaced communities are not forgotten.
