SRINAGAR: The recent breakthroughs in Ladakh talks have become a topic of discussion in Srinagar, prompting former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to call for unity among political parties.
Mehbooba's Letters to Political Leaders
Mehbooba Mufti has written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and all other political parties, urging them to come together and appeal to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to initiate a meaningful and sustained engagement with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She has requested the CM to convene an all-party meeting on the lines of the Ladakh dialogue. Additionally, she has separately written to the heads of Congress, BJP, Peoples Conference, AAP, Awami Ithaad Party, CPM, Panthers Party, as well as civil society groups, including representatives of the Pandit and Sikh communities, asking them to set aside differences in the larger interest of the people and unite.
Lessons from Ladakh
In her letters, Mehbooba stated, "The recent breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in their engagement with the Government of India offer an important lesson: sincere dialogue can lead to meaningful outcomes." She emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir once again stands at a critical juncture, with a deep sense of despair, uncertainty, and disillusionment across the region. "It is imperative we build a broad consensus to help steer J&K out of the current impasse," she added.
Appeal to the Chief Minister
In her letter to CM Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba noted that she had sought an appointment but due to his preoccupations, it had not been possible. "Therefore, I am taking the liberty of writing to you since time is running out and we cannot afford to delay things any further," she wrote. She urged the CM, as head of state, to initiate the process of bringing all parties together through an official meeting. "This will set the ball rolling for us to formally reach out to the central government. Given the fact that disagreements and squabbling between regional parties have been detrimental to the collective interests of J&K, a reasonable consensus, especially post-2019, is the only solution. If Ladakh could do it, so can we," she said.
Omar Abdullah's Response
Omar Abdullah responded, saying, "We spoke on Saturday when you asked to meet. I told you I was in Pahalgam on Sunday and would get in touch on Monday or Tuesday to fix to meet. Your letter gives the impression that I've kept you waiting for an appointment for weeks on end, which is clearly not the case. Be that as it may, your letter to me is now in the public domain and I will be sending you a reply, similarly routed, once I've consulted my senior party colleagues."
Background of Ladakh Talks
After the May 22 meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs panel on Ladakh, representatives of the Union Territory claimed that the Centre had agreed to provide a legislative assembly-like council for Ladakh, with the elected head having powers even over the chief secretary. They also stated that Ladakh would receive a constitutional framework on the lines of Article 371. The MHA had formed the committee on January 2, 2023, led by junior home minister Nityanand Rai, to address key issues of Ladakh following repeated protests for statehood. Several rounds of talks were held until four people were killed and over 80 injured in alleged police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood on September 24, 2025.
Sonam Wangchuk, a member of the Leh Apex Body and environmentalist, was accused of inciting the protesters. He was arrested, charged under the National Security Act, and kept in Jodhpur jail. The Centre revoked his NSA detention in March this year. After his release, Wangchuk pressed for talks and was part of the May 22 discussions with the Centre.
