Srinagar, Jun 13 (KNO): Stating that the entire Kashmiri society cannot be held responsible for the circumstances that led to the migration of Kashmiri Pandits, Chief Minister's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani on Saturday said the government would work towards reviving the Apex Committee on their return and rehabilitation. He asserted that all efforts made so far would remain incomplete unless Pandits and Muslims once again lived together in Kashmir.
Addressing the Global Kashmiri Pandit Conclave, titled "From Exile to Excellence," at SKICC Srinagar, Wani, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the issue of Kashmiri Pandits' return required dialogue, reconciliation, and a collective roadmap rather than a continuation of the blame game.
Responding to concerns expressed by community members, he said it would be unfair to hold the entire Kashmiri society responsible for the events that led to their displacement. "You cannot paint everyone with the same brush. There were people whose hearts beat for Kashmiri Pandits then and continue to do so even today," he said.
Recalling his childhood in an atmosphere of communal harmony, the CM's Advisor said his generation grew up in togetherness where religious identities rarely defined social relations. "It was often impossible to distinguish who was a Kashmiri Pandit and who was a Kashmiri Muslim. Many of the teachers who shaped our generation were Kashmiri Pandits. Our education and social values were shaped in this society," he said.
Referring to the turmoil that led to the migration, Wani said a storm came that affected everyone, bringing immense suffering to Kashmiri Pandits, but Kashmiri Muslims also suffered. "There was a section with a particular mindset that wanted division and instability, but it would be wrong to blame an entire society for the actions of a few," he said, adding that many Kashmiris have always wanted Pandits to return.
Calling for a fresh institutional mechanism, the CM's Advisor announced that the government would move to revive the Apex Committee constituted for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. "At the government level, we believe the Apex Committee should be revived. We will engage with representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit community, invite stakeholders, and work together to find a practical roadmap for return and reconciliation," he said, adding that the government would hold consultations and work towards a consensus-based approach.
Stressing the importance of return and reconciliation, Wani said Kashmir would remain incomplete without its Pandit community. "Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Kashmir, is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits. The Valley cannot be complete until Pandits return and become part of its social fabric once again," he said.
Acknowledging that successive governments had introduced several measures, including Prime Minister's employment packages, transit accommodations, and institutional mechanisms, he said the larger objective remained unfulfilled. "We made many efforts. Rehabilitation packages were announced, transit accommodations were created, and committees were constituted. We tried different approaches, but unless Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims live together again, all these efforts remain incomplete," he said.
Wani said the return of Pandits could not be achieved through administrative measures alone and required rebuilding trust between communities. "If we continue blaming each other, we will never reach a solution. We need to sit together, talk to each other, and collectively find a way forward. My skin is the same as yours. My blood is the same as yours. We have a shared history and a shared future," he said.
The Advisor said preserving Kashmir's language, culture, and centuries-old traditions required the participation of both communities, and expressed optimism that renewed dialogue could help bridge differences and create conditions conducive to dignified return—(KNO)