Mehbooba Mufti Opposes IIOJK Govt’s Plan to Deploy Ex-Servicemen, Urges Focus on Youth Employment

As unemployment among Kashmiri youth reaches alarming levels, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti voices strong opposition to a new government policy, calling for immediate action to empower the region’s young generation.

Srinagar – Former Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has come out against the IIOJK government’s decision to deploy 4,000 ex-servicemen to guard vital infrastructure. She termed the move a missed opportunity to provide employment to the region’s struggling youth.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti expressed that while she respects the services of military veterans, the decision to assign them static guard duties could have been better utilized to create jobs for trained local youth instead.

“Static security roles do not demand specialized military experience,” she noted, “and could be effectively handled by young, educated Kashmiris who are in desperate need of employment.”

Mufti warned that such decisions risk worsening the sense of alienation among the youth. She pointed out that many ex-servicemen already receive pensions, while thousands of young men and women in IIOJK remain jobless and without support.

“This was a golden opportunity to engage local youth meaningfully,” she wrote. “Prioritizing ex-servicemen over the unemployed only adds to the crisis of social disconnect and despair.”

On her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Mehbooba Mufti reiterated her stance, stating:

“While I hold the utmost respect and gratitude for our ex-servicemen, we mustn’t overlook the mounting crisis of unemployment afflicting youth in J&K (IIOJK). With few opportunities, many fall into drug addiction, and some are tragically driven to suicide. We must be more mindful of their future.”

She emphasized that the government’s decision might offer a short-term fix for security concerns, but it fails to build long-term trust or stability. Employing local youth, she argued, could help bridge gaps between the government and the people, while also addressing socio-economic challenges.

Mufti called on the administration to reconsider or at least clarify the intent behind the move and advocated for more inclusive policies that tackle the urgent employment crisis in IIOJK.

Her remarks have struck a chord with many in the region, where youth unemployment continues to rise, creating what she described as a “social emergency.”