SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir should be the first region in the country from where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, is withdrawn if it is revoked anywhere in India, according to Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Wani made these remarks on Saturday while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event held in Srinagar. He expressed the hope that the Union Territory would receive priority in any future governmental decisions concerning the rollback of AFSPA.
Wani stated, “If AFSPA is lifted anywhere, we wish, request and hope that it should first be removed from Jammu and Kashmir.” The controversial AFSPA grants extensive powers to security forces operating in areas designated as “disturbed.” For years, the act has been a subject of significant political debate and public discussion within Jammu and Kashmir, with many advocating for its repeal due to concerns about human rights.
The special powers conferred by AFSPA allow security personnel to search any premises, arrest any person without a warrant, and use force, including causing death, if deemed necessary to maintain public order. These provisions have frequently drawn criticism from human rights organisations and local political leaders who argue that they are often misused and contribute to a climate of impunity.
The Act has been in force in various parts of the North Eastern states of India and Jammu and Kashmir for decades. While it has been progressively withdrawn from some areas in the Northeast in recent years due to improved security situations, it remains a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir. Political sentiment in the region largely leans towards the complete removal of the Act, with proponents arguing that a return to normalcy should be accompanied by the restoration of civilian freedoms and a reduction in the military’s extraordinary powers.
Wani’s statement reflects a long-standing demand from various political factions in Jammu and Kashmir for the revocation of AFSPA. The demand is often framed within the broader context of seeking greater autonomy and normalcy for the region. The central government, however, has historically maintained that the decision to withdraw or extend AFSPA is based on security assessments and the prevailing ground situation.
The current status of AFSPA varies across different states and Union Territories. In Jammu and Kashmir, while it has been withdrawn from some police station areas over the years, it continues to be applicable in many parts. The ongoing discourse surrounding national security, coupled with calls for human rights protection, keeps the issue of AFSPA’s applicability a recurring point of discussion in the political landscape of the Union Territory.
The Chenab Times News Desk