Srinagar, June 4: People’s Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, today underscored the need for taking concrete steps on ground to start a meaningful dialogue for amicable and permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue

 Interacting with the members of non-governmental Kashmir Committee on Friday night here, Mehbooba emphasized that all sections of the society must to be taken on board before starting the dialogue process.

 The Committee members comprise eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani, V K Grover (retired) Ambassador and Madhu Kishwar.

 She also observed that to restore sustainable peace in this region it was important to address both the external and internal complexities of the issue.

“While the external dimensions of the problem have to be taken care of by India and Pakistan bilaterally, on the internal front, measures have to be taken to ensure political and economic empowerment of the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the State,” she told the delegation.

 She stressed on the need of evolving consensus on some vital issues like utilization of natural resources. “The natural resources of the State and their exploitation needed to be revisited to make J&K economically self sufficient.”

 She also stressed on the need of taking some reconciliatory measures including revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and reduction in troops deployed on internal security duties in Kashmir. She opined that such steps would put positive impact on the situation.

 Former Minister and senior PDP leader Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, PDP chief spokesman, Naeem Akthar and M Altaf Bukhari were also present.

 The panel on Saturday met eight non-political delegations here and is expected to meet Peoples Conference chairman, Sajjad Gani Lone over dinner at his Sanatnagar residence.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST