New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS): Removing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir needs consensus from all stakeholders, informed sources said Sunday while stressing that the long-term goal of everybody, including the army, was to lift it from the state.

Everybody, including the army, wants removal of the act, which gives special powers to armed forces in the troubled state, sources said, pointing to the counter-insurgency grid and jobs like guarding the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the state between India and Pakistan.

"AFSPA is a means to an end," the sources said, adding that the situation in the state was much better than 10 years ago.

Ultimately, however, there had to be consensus amongst all stakeholders. While the state government functions on advice, the "centre also had to unify its own thinking".

"We have to talk to each other to take it forward," the sources told journalists.