Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that the process of revoking the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act can be started on an "experimental basis". But she clarified that this did not mean they want AFSPA to be "revoked immediately and in entirety", ANI reported. "After revoking AFSPA in a few areas, we can assess the situation there. If successful, we can revoke it in entirety," Mufti said.

Mufti made the statement after she, along with her council of ministers, met Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh to review the situation in the state. She also thanked "doctors and others" for working "round-the-clock to bring back normalcy" in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been in a state of unrest and seen clashes since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The Peoples Democratic Party leader also criticised Pakistan for urging youth to "take up guns" in Kashmir. "[It is] unfortunate that a country that claims it is a victim of terrorism encourages Kashmiri youth to take up guns," Mufti said, adding that Pakistan must "change this policy" as it is vital that the countries "start dialogues and [take up] confident-building measures".

The Supreme Court had recently observed that the Indian Army and other paramilitary forces cannot use "excessive and retaliatory force" in regions where the AFSPA is enforced. The apex court was hearing a petition seeking an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team or the Central Bureau of Investigation into extrajudicial killings in the state.