Centre's talks offer golden chance to end Kashmir row: Mehbooba
Srinagar, June 11: Asserting that the offer of talks to separatists and the Ramadan ceasefire were the beginning of a dialogue process, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday asked the separatists not to miss this "golden opportunity".
Speaking after inaugurating a bridge here, she said: "For ending uncertainty and providing lasting peace in the state, everyone including the separatists should come forward and respond to the Home Minister's offer of dialogue to resolve he Jammu and Kashmir issue and other problems of the state.
"I feel that somewhere efforts are being made to carry forward the political process. How far can the political process be taken will depend on how good the situation remains on the ground," she told reporters.
The Chief Minister added: "This is a golden opportunity. It does not happen very often that a very powerful Prime Minister makes such an offer. It was 18 years back that cessation of operations happened during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure.
"At that time, talks were held at the level of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.
"That process appears to have been repeated now, but we cannot force anyone. We hope the separatists seize the opportunity."
She expressed sadness over the continuing violence by the militants by way of grenade attacks, firing at security forces and through weapon snatching attempts.
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Middle East crisis: Oil prices cross $83 per barrel as Strait of Hormuz disruption hits supply
New Delhi: Global crude oil prices rose sharply on Thursday, crossing $83 per barrel, following Iran’s move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices have increased by more than 2 per cent due to concerns over supply disruptions in the region, which is a key route for global energy shipments.
A sustained rise in crude prices could significantly affect India’s import bill. Government estimates indicate that an increase of $1 per barrel in crude oil prices for a full year could raise India’s import bill by around Rs 16,000 crore.
However, government sources said India remains in a relatively comfortable position in the short term. The country currently has crude oil reserves sufficient for about 25 days, along with an additional 25 days’ supply of petroleum products, including shipments already in transit to Indian ports.
India imports nearly 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements from the Middle East, with much of the supply traditionally passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Officials said India has strengthened its energy security in recent years by diversifying its sources of crude oil imports. Supplies have increasingly been sourced from countries such as Russia, African nations and the United States, reducing dependence on Gulf routes.
As a result, a portion of India’s oil imports now bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
India spent about $137 billion on crude oil imports in the financial year ending March 31, 2025. In the current financial year, from April 2025 to January 2026, the country spent approximately $100.4 billion to import 206.3 million tonnes of crude oil.
