As many as 145 militants, including 54 foreigners, are active in Jammu and Kashmir while 4,587 Kashmiri youths have crossed over to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).
This information was given by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds Home portfolio, in the Legislative Assembly today in reply to a question by Rajesh Gupta.
The reply said that reportedly 145 militants are active in the state, out of which 91 are locals and 54 foreigners. She said reportedly 4,587 youths and missing people have crossed over to PoK.
The reply said that 489 youth along with their wives and children have returned from POK and Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal with effect from 2003 till May 22, 2016.
Interestingly, Nepal is not among the four routes approved for return of Kashmiri youths from PoK or Pakistan. However, in reply to another question by leader of the opposition in the House Omar Abdullah, the Chief minister said the state government has sanctioned a policy and procedure for rehabilitation of mis-guided youth who have crossed to PoK Pak but have given up insurgent activities due to change of heart and are willing to return to state.
The policy has recognised four routes for the return of misguided youth. Nepal is not an approved route under the policy, the reply said. The Chief Minister said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought comments of the state government on the inclusion of Nepal route as an additional entry point.
The state government has recently forwarded its comments to the MHA, the reply said.
