Srinagar, Feb. 21 -- Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately safeguard the interests of Kashmiri horticulture by excluding apples from the proposed Indo-US trade deal.

Expressing grave concern over reports of zero-duty American apple imports, Mehbooba warned that such a move would deliver a "death blow" to the orchard economy of Kashmir. She emphasised that horticulture is the backbone of Kashmir's economy, supporting over seven lakh families whose livelihoods, children's education, and healthcare depend entirely on it.

"The sector is already bleeding due to low-priced Iranian imports routed through SAFTA, which have depressed market prices...