Centre Blames Pakistan For Spate Of Targeted Killings In Kashmir

"Violence levels might have increased in Kashmir but it is not jihad. It is being done by some desperate elements," a senior official told NDTV.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government cannot be part of ethnic cleansing so minorities would not be shifted out of the Kashmir valley but only to a safer location, this decision was taken by the centre amidst demands from Kashmiri Pandits who wanted to be shifted out of Kashmir after a spate of targetted killings mostly at the minority community and non-locals.

Central intelligence agencies again blamed Pakistan for the escalating violence in the Kashmir valley while briefing union Home Minister Amit Shah during a series of meetings on Friday at the North Block.

"Violence levels might have increased in Kashmir but it is not jihad. It is being done by some desperate elements," a senior functionary in the government told NDTV, adding that perpetrators of violence are sitting across the border in Pakistan.

Officials also told Mr Shah that there is no evidence to suggest the presence of the Taliban in the Kashmir valley. This is significant as the Narendra Modi government started its engagement with the Taliban just earlier this week.