AFSPA will be eased in more areas, says Kiren Rijiju

The minister claimed the Centre was extremely sensitive to the demands of the Nagas and other groups in the Northeast.

Playing politics over security?

The AFSPA now needs to be removed or at least relaxed in Kashmir.

The Army would do well not to misuse its power to search, arrest or shoot.

Across the Northeast, there has been a huge reduction of 96 per cent in casualties among the security forces from 289 in 1997 to 12 in 2017.

The party also expressed serious concern over the attacks on Kashmiri students, businessmen and others outside J&K.

The Army operates under AFSPA only when the prevailing security situation demands so.

She also said there was 'no rethinking as of now' on the AFSPA in J&K and several insurgency-hit states in the Northeast.

Mehbooba said the Army's footprint in the Valley had increased due to the deteriorating security situation.

He said though AFSPA has some strong provisions, the Army is concerned about collateral damages and will ensure convenience of local people.

Act remains a thorny issue in J&K, Northeast.