People in J&K want to move on: Envoys

NEW DELHI: The 25 foreign envoys who visited Kashmir this week and interacted with people there said there was a feeling among locals that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism and separatism in J&K in its own self-interest, according to people aware of the matter.

The envoys also felt that while the people in Kashmir may not be happy with the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the state, they desired to move on as they knew there was no going back, said the people. This was the second batch of foreign envoys to visit Kashmir since January and it included ambassadors from Europe and Central Asia.

The locals told the envoys that there were expectations that the government would deliver on its promises of economic development.