Amid rising tensions on border, Centre's interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma to visit Kashmir for peace talks
Srinagar, January 22: Amidst heavy ceasefire violations from shameless Pakistani Rangers on the international border (IB), the central government’s interlocutor for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma would be arriving on Monday on his fourth visit to carry forward the interlocution process. This will be Sharma's first visit to Kashmir in 2018.
The centre’s interlocutor for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma would be arriving today in the valley to reach out to the people and help in restoring peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir. Dineshwar Sharma met Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra in New Delhi on Sunday and held extensive discussions on several important issues relating to the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.
Dineshwar Sharma during his fourth visit will meet various stakeholders, politicians and other social leaders and help in bringing normalcy to the state. Since Dineshwar Sharma’s appointment last year, Centre's interlocutor has visited different places including sensitive South Kashmir to hold discussions with people.
However, centre's interlocutor's visit comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions on Line of Control and International Border in Jammu division. Earlier, in the week, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister while addressing a gathering of passing out parade of new Police constables said, “Holi of blood is going on at our borders.”
During his third visit in December last year, over 60 delegations including Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra met him. Sharma described the meetings with the people in north Kashmir as very positive and encouraging. Top separatist leaders, civil society members and traders in Kashmir refused to meet the interlocutor during his all three visits to the valley.
Importantly, Dineshwar Sharma is the person behind granting of amnesty to stone pelters. After his recommendation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti announced to relieve 4237 first time stone pelters in Kashmir.
BACKGROUND:
Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the month of October last year said that the central government has decided to start a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir, with former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma appointed as the Centre’s representative.
Dineshwar Sharma, a Bihar-born, Kerala-cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1979 batch was the chief of the Intelligence Bureau. Sharma has a wide range of experience in handling separatism and insurgencies to domestic and regional politics. He has also served in a wide variety of command and staff positions in various Police, Paramilitary and Intelligence agencies.