Srinagar, Sept 27: People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed today  said India and Pakistan need to understand the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir before drawing out a plan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
 “India and Pakistan will have to accede to the aspirations of the people of the state to put up a united and well considered plan for resolution,” Sayeed said at a seminar organised by the party on its self-rule formula, at Pulwama, 32 kms from here.
 According to a party statement, former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig said the formula provided for a space for legal, constitutional, political and economic empowerment of the government, institutions and the people of the state.
 He said the formula detailed on equitable distribution of resources and restoration of state’s natural resources to its people.
 In her inaugural remarks, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said as a first step to the realisation of the concept of self rue it was necessary to revoke completely AFSPA and demilitarise the civilian
areas of the state.
 She said the government itself had placed the number of active militants in the state at 700 and it was not understandable as to why establishment was keen on retaining the same level of troops in the state that was required two decades when thousands of young men had taken up arms.
 She said Kashmir society would continue to simmer with anger and discontent until the civil society was not provided unrestricted space for asserting its rights without the security forces breathing down their necks.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 IST