Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti calling for making Nepal route to be legalised for return of Kashmiri youth who had gone to Pakistan for arms training and are now eager to return and live normal life as part of confidence building measure though sounds humane but lacks logic and legality. Nepal has been the exit and entry point for militants whether indigenous or Pakistanis to come to India without much hassel because of porous long borders and less of vigil with very hospitable locals and the police forces of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Now, if the demand is conceded the inimical forces will have one more comfort and legitimate point to enter India. Most of these youth had gone to Pakistan occupied Kashmir for arms training and many of them must have returned via the illegal route. With Chief Minister asking for legalising the entry point is to give authenticity for the cross over. The State Government adopted rehabilitation policy for these youth in January 2010 and made it applicable for militants, who had crossed over to Pakistan. According to the policy, approved by the State Government after the approval of the Union Home Ministry, former militants can return from four entry points – Poonch-Rawalakote, Uri-Muzaffarbad, JCP Wagah and Attari, Punjab, and Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi.
However, most Pak returnees chose the Nepal route, which Union Government does not recognise as a legal route under this policy. Since Return and Rehabilitation Policy was announced, according to Union Home Ministry, 453 men along with 197 women and 603 children returned via Nepal route. The Chief Minister stressed the urgency of rejuvenating the Confidence Building Measures to put peace and reconciliation process back on track while holding wide-range discussions with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir and along the borders in the State. She also called for opening more cross-LoC/IB points in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for free movement of people and goods. She specifically stressed the need for opening Suchetgarh-Sialkote and Kargil-Skardu routes to increase people to people contact in the region and trade which would economically no doubt bring some growth and development that otherwise these regions have remained deprived of.