Centre should withdraw AFSPA from J&K first if revoked anywhere: Nasir Aslam

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s advisor Nasir Aslam Wani on Saturday said that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should be withdrawn from the Union territory first if the Centre decides to repeal it in any part of the country.

Speaking to reporters at an event here, Wani said the PM Narendra Modi-led government should consider withdrawing the AFSPA as the situation in J&K has improved significantly.

It has been under AFSPA since July 1990, after it was declared a ‘disturbed area’ by the central government, granting the military extraordinary powers to suppress rising militancy and insurgency.

Apart from J&K, AFSPA remains in effect in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. “It is our wish, and we appeal to them that they should first of all revoke it (AFSPA) from J&K. It also seems that the situation has improved a lot on the ground. So, it will be much better if they start from Jammu and Kashmir,” the CM’s advisor said.