Welcome homecoming

Sir— This refers to the report, “Mother’s love draws footballer back home from leT clutches” (November 18). Days after joining the lashkar-e-Tayyeba, a young footballer-turned-militant, Majid Khan’s homecoming must have definitely brought back smiles on the faces of his aged parents who had given up hope of his safe return. 

Instead of totting up one more chalk-mark on their kill-or-arrest blackboard, the security forces in Kashmir have aided his absorption into society by withholding the full force of the law. Kashmir needs more such Majid Khans for a solitary swallow doesn’t make a summer. Since the footballer’s return, two more families have made similar appeals for their sons to return home. The basic point is that no parent wants to carry the coffins of their child on their shoulders.

Whatever tricks and strategies Delhi has up its sleeve, these must be geared towards Kashmiris reposing their faith in the Indian democracy’s promise to address their desires and dreams. Kashmir has lost too many youngsters to the culture of the gun. It needs to gain more Majid Khans.