'Only Modi can resolve Kashmir, but through reconciliation': Mehbooba Mufti on PDP foundation day

July 28, 2025 by News Desk

At a commemorative event marking the 26th Foundation Day of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), its president Mehbooba Mufti made a pointed appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a meaningful political process in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar, Mufti said that the people of the region were exhausted by militarization and deserved a path rooted in dialogue.

Mufti told attendees that despite years of increased security measures and punitive laws, Kashmir continues to simmer. “We’ve had enough of force. What this place needs now is healing—not more fear,” she said, urging New Delhi to engage politically instead of deploying more boots on the ground.

The PDP was established in 1999 by her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during one of Kashmir’s most volatile decades. Reflecting on those years, Mehbooba described how the party was born in a time when civilians were caught in the crossfire of insurgents and counterinsurgent forces. “There was a void—a suffocating lack of space for civil life. Mufti Sahab tried to carve out breathing room for the people,” she recalled.

She emphasized that the PDP didn’t emerge from hunger for authority but as a response to the daily distress of Kashmiris. “Our inception wasn’t driven by the desire to rule. It was about giving people back their dignity when they had none,” she said.

Revisiting one of her father’s core ideas, she paraphrased his belief in a strong but compassionate India. “He envisioned a powerful nation that could carry all its people with grace. Unfortunately, when it comes to Kashmir, that vision remains chained,” she added.

In what appeared to be her clearest overture yet, Mufti said the current Prime Minister holds the key to resolving the Kashmir conflict. “Modi Ji carries an unmatched political mandate. If anyone is capable of changing the course, it’s him. But that would require ending the war-like atmosphere here,” she said.

She argued that reconciliation is no longer a political buzzword but an urgent national requirement. “Detentions, FIRs, surveillance—none of these have changed ground realities. What has this strategy achieved besides more alienation?” she asked.

Mehbooba also questioned the absence of Kashmiri voices in discussions about foreign policy. “Each time a local mentions peace with Pakistan, they’re told to shut up. But it’s our land that has suffered every time borders heat up. How can decisions about us be taken without even hearing us out?” she asked.

She claimed that the political silence surrounding the region was carefully orchestrated. “They say Kashmir is an inseparable part of the country, but we’re left out of every important conversation. We’re remembered during conflict, forgotten in policymaking,” she said.

Mufti also raised concerns about shrinking democratic space, saying that the right to protest or even speak freely was now under threat. “Even communities that stayed away from politics are being dragged into the crossfire. If everyone’s a suspect, what kind of democracy is that?” she questioned.

She criticized the government’s use of laws like the Public Safety Act, arguing that coercive tools were replacing public trust. “Building bridges with people can’t happen through jail cells and charge sheets,” she said.

Turning to development, Mufti juxtaposed India’s economic priorities with its growing military spending. “Look at the region—China is racing ahead on every front, while we still struggle to provide clean water in schools. Are missiles more important than children’s education?” she asked.

She said India’s youth represent its potential, but that potential is being held back by weak foundations. “Even our own foreign minister admits we’re far from catching up to China. So what’s the point of chest-thumping if the basics aren’t right?” she added.

Reflecting on the efforts of previous Indian leaders, Mufti acknowledged that every prime minister—from Indira Gandhi to Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh—had attempted, in their own way, to deal with Kashmir. “They may not have always succeeded, but at least there was an effort. The baton is now in Modi Ji’s hands,” she said.

In a brief reference to cross-border diplomacy, she welcomed India’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament, part of which will be hosted in Pakistan. “If sports can bring countries together, why can’t that same spirit be used to bridge distances within the nation?” she asked.

Mufti concluded her address by reiterating her party’s core belief in peace through dialogue. “We’ve never seen ourselves as adversaries. All we ask for is to be treated with respect, not suspicion. Real peace will arrive only when hearts are reached—not crushed,” she said.