New Delhi, June 23: More than 100 Kashmiri youth, who crossed over to Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK) years ago for arms training, are expected to return home next month accepting government’s special rehabilitation policy.
A high-level committee comprising representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir government, Ministry of Home Affairs, Army and others has scrutinised the applications and verified the antecedents of the militants who want to surrender and live peaceful life and has cleared 28 names.
“80 more names will be cleared by the end of this month. Hopefully, all these 108 youth will return home next month,” an official said.
Altogether, around 700 applications were received by the Jammu and Kashmir government on behalf of the militants, many of them are married and have children and want to come back and live a peaceful life availing the new special surrender and rehabilitation policy.
“Rest of the applications will be cleared phase-wise after scrutiny,” the official said.
The policy, announced last year, covers all people (and their dependents) who crossed over to PaK between 1989 and 2009 to embrace militancy and now want to return to lead a peaceful life.
The scheme includes identification, screening, travel, debriefing, rehabilitation and reintegration of the militants willing to give up arms.
The policy will be implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir government with active support of the Central government. A few officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad are expected to travel to PaK capital Muzaffarabad to issue travel permits of these 108 people. New Delhi is working out with Islamabad how to facilitate the travel of the embassy officials to Muzaffarabad.
These militants have given up arms long ago due to a change of heart and are willing to return to the state.
The issue of return of Kashmiri youth from PaK shot to prominence in 2006 when a delegation of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, went to Pakistan.
Several Kashmiris in PaK met them and pleaded to facilitate their return, saying they were “homesick”.

HIGHLIGHTS
* Policy covers all persons who crossed over to PaK  between 1989-2009

* Scheme includes  identification, screening,debriefing, rehabilitation & reintegration

* 700 applications for  return received by Govt

* 28 applications cleared, 80 more to get clearance by month end

* Delhi working with Islamabad how to  facilitate travel of embassy officials to Muzaffarabad

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST