Baramulla, April 23: Two years into the National Conference (NC) government in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday made a strong pitch for reopening the Uri-Muzaffarabad road, arguing that better trade and travel links with Pakistan would not only boost Kashmir’s apple economy but also help end “hostilities and bloodshed.”
Addressing a workers’ convention at Dak Bungalow in Baramulla, Mehbooba Mufti, as per Kashmir Convener, said the road was opened during the PDP’s tenure with the explicit goal of improving Indo-Pak relations at the people-to-people level. “When the road is open, we do the most business. Besides, our relations with Pakistan would improve, this bloodshed would stop, these hostilities would end, mothers and sisters would not wander in graveyards crying for their young sons on Eid occasions,” she said.
The former chief minister’s comments come at a time when cross-LoC ties remain frozen, and India has consistently linked any dialogue with Pakistan to an end to cross-border terrorism. However, Mehbooba framed the issue as one of economic survival, pointing to Sopore — which she called India’s biggest fruit market — and the apple industry’s dependence on smoother transit routes.
“Today, when peak season arrives, fruit remains in trucks for 15 days due to the highway closure. That was our effort — because India has the biggest fruit market,” she said.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba said he meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah “every month” but fails to raise the demand for reopening the road. “Isn’t it his duty? Can’t he speak to open this road?” she asked.
She alleged that the road was shut after accusations that drugs were being smuggled from across the border, but dismissed that as a weak argument. “European apples come in — cheap apples, American apples come in — at least not more than ours. Our apples from here via this road could reach different countries; at least business would grow a little. But Omar Abdullah doesn’t open his mouth, doesn’t say anything.”
She said the high voter turnout in the last assembly elections was driven by the hope that the NC would resolve people’s issues — including protection of mosques, land rights, and jobs for one lakh youth.
“Instead of jobs, those young people have become victims of depression because the NC’s promises have turned out to be false,” she said.
Mehbooba contrasted the PDP’s six-year rule (2002-2008) with the NC’s 50-year governance record in J&K, arguing that her party did its best despite difficult circumstances, including border shelling and tensions with Pakistan.
With the PDP reduced to just four MLAs, she said, “How much pressure can we bear? The Union Territory is in distress; people are suffering.”
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