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| Mehbooba hails PM’s latest peace move towards Pakistan | | 
Langate (Kupwara)/Srinagar, May 13 (Scoop News) – Welcoming Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s latest move to revive the peace process with the new democratically elected government in Pakistan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today said the emerging political scenario in Islamabad offers a great opportunity for the leadership of the two countries to “chart a new course” in bilateral relations as envisioned by Dr Singh.
“We hope that election of Mian Nawaz Sharif as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan would not only prove a stabilising factor for that country, but also pave the way for scripting a new chapter in Indo-Pak ties with J&K serving as a bridge of friendship,” Mehbooba said while addressing a PDP workers’ convention here today. She said there was no alternative to peace process set in motion by India and Pakistan in 2003.
Mehbooba said Jammu and Kashmir has huge stakes in Indo-Pak peace as it has the direct bearing on the State and its people. “There is no way but to acknowledge the aspirations people of Jammu & Kashmir, if we want a permanent peace in the sub-continent,” she said and expressed the hope that in the new atmosphere of peace and stability in the region, Jammu and Kashmir would emerge as a hub of free movement of goods and people in the region with expansion of trade and travel, not only on existing cross-LoC routes (Srinagar-Muzaffarabad & Poonch-Rawalakote) but opening of new routes like Jammu-Sialkote and Kargil-Skardu as well.
PDP President said the remarkable feature of the peace process that was evident between 2002 and 2005 was that for the first time in J&K’s history, the State Government had initiated, catalyzed and driven the process, instead of being a passive recipient of the bilateral initiatives. “Immediately after the assembly election of October 2002, the State Government took the centre-stage to drive and facilitate the peace and resolution process,” she said and added that the results of these bold initiatives were there for everybody to behold with a lasting ceasefire holding on since 2003 along the borders from Kathua to Kargil.
Mehbooba said, unfortunately, after the change of guard in 2009, the peace and reconciliation efforts took a back seat fuelling a fresh wave of uncertainty, insecurity, cynicism and alienation. “The present disappointing situation necessitates some bold political and economic measures both on internal and external fronts,” she said and added; “What is needed the most at this juncture is the political will to move forward on the resolution process with greater trust in the people of the State, only then can the dialogue and the peace process culminate in a resolution that would bring everlasting peace, not only in Jammu & Kashmir, but the whole subcontinent.”
Expressing confidence that the emancipated voters of the State, especially the youth, would endorse PDP’s pro-people agenda in greater numbers in the political battles ahead, Mehbooba said; “PDP had to some extent restored the sanctity of democratic values in the State but it would need a clearer mandate to represent the just concerns and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Speaking on the occasion PDP General Secretary, Mohammad Dillawar Mir said that NC had through all its accords right from the Delhi Agreement of 1952 only surrendered the rights of the State and got nothing in return for the people except power and luxuries to build personal fortunes. He said the much touted generational association from Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had always been used by the NC as a license to exploit Kashmiri sentiment and the State’s resources to keep New Delhi happy.
Mir said PDP has emerged as the only credible option for the people of the State as they see in its agenda reflection of their sentiment. He said having suffered for generations at the hands of NC’s unchallenged domination, the people have endorsed PDP policies after judging it by its performance during the three year brief rule from 2002 to 2005.
He said the initiatives like waiver of Toll Tax on fruit, establishment of Fruit Mandis and introduction of Market Intervention Scheme were some of the revolutionary measures that gave massive flip to the horticulture industry in the State.
PDP leaders Abdul Haq Khan, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sofi, Irfan Panditpuri, Ghulam Nabi Panditpuri, Fayaz Ahmad, Mohammad Afzal Advocate, Mohammad Amin Wani, Mohammad Shafi Dar and Ali Mohammad Malla also addressed the gathering.
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