Pakistan may sabotage J&K's youth rehabilitation policy: Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said his state's policy of rehabilitation of youths, who have crossed over the Line of Control for militant training, "does not suit" Pakistan and they may "sabotage" it.

"Reality is that Cross-LoC return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri youth is not the policy of one country. This rehabilitation policy does not suit our neighbouring country (Pakistan)," Omar said.

Responding to a question of Opposition PDP member Murtaza Khan during question hour in Legislative Council, Omar said, "It is possible that under such a situation they (Pakistan) will not only oppose it-- they will also sabotage the project."

"We are trying to find various ways and means to bring back Kashmiri youths, who have gone cross LOC for militant training," Omar said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the state government has received over 1,000 applications from the families of such youths -- which are under the various stages of the process.

"As many as 67 of them have been given final approval and their families have been informed. These families have stopped any further interaction with the youth sitting across the LoC," he added.

Omar maintained that it was not possible for him to reveal any further details related to the project.

"We have stuck to our plans to bring back and rehabilitate the Kashmiri youths who had taken up arms and the best possible efforts are being made in this regard," he added.

A number of youths from different parts of the state had gone to Pakistan for arms training since the inception of militancy in early 1990s.

As per the Rehabilitation policy, the youth on their return would be kept in rehabilitation camps and subjected to questioning before being allowed to re-unite with their families.