US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan to affect Indian-controlled Kashmir: Form

Former Chief Minister of Indian-controlled Kashmir Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has called for safeguarding the restive region from the fallout of upcoming withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

"We have to guard against the fallout of strategic changes in the region that can come in the wake of the upcoming pullout of American forces from Afghanistan," Sayeed said Sunday while addressing a party rally in Vijaypur of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "But we have to be clear that such apprehensions can be met only by creating an atmosphere of hope in Jammu and Kashmir and not through strong arm tactics that have been the hallmark of governance for the past four years."

Sayeed has previously served as India's Home Minister and is currently the patron of pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Indian-controlled Kashmir.PDP is the region's main opposition party.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989.