Srinagar:
People across the Valley are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the all party meeting on Kashmir being held today. Continued violence in the Valley since June has seen the loss of 70 lives and there is expectation that today's meeting might put an end to the vicious cycle.
While people are expecting relief in the form of a new political initiative, the immediate concern for many is freedom from long spells of curfew. More than 2-months of curfew have meant tremendous hardship for the people. Many don't have access to basic necessities like milk.
Reports that the PDP will be joining today's all party meeting have raised hopes among the people. Earlier, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti had boycotted the July 12 all-party meet despite the Prime Minister requesting her to attend the meeting.
The Valley was hoping for an Eid package that was supposed to give the people some respite from the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Act is often criticized for being "draconian" and giving the Army sweeping powers without any accountability. No such package came and there was more violence on Eid after which curfew was clamped across the valley.