Jammu, Apr 29: Reiterating that dialogue is the only means to solve all vexed problems, PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday said that India and Pakistan should take the peace and reconciliation process to its logical end for restoring lasting and sustainable peace in this region.
Addressing public meetings at Simbal Camp in R S Pura and Dogra Hall in Jammu city, Sayeed said the situation in Pakistan has changed and Islamabad was responding positively to the dialogue and reconciliation process “so it is high time for taking some bold steps to solve all bilateral issues including Kashmir.”
“Atmosphere is conducive for initiating some concrete steps for the resolution of this vexed problem”, he said and added that it was also the desire of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to solve the Kashmir problem. He, however, emphasized the need for evolving consensus on Kashmir because peaceful relations between India and Pakistan were in the interest of the people of both the countries.
While pointing towards some bold initiatives taken to ease trade on Wagha border, he said that Indo-Pak dialogue was again on the track and it needed to be complemented with action from both sides. He said that foundation for restoring peace between India and Pakistan was laid when the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had extended hand of friendship towards Pakistan on April 18, 2003 from Srinagar.
Highlighting the historical role played by the PDP in normalizing relations between India and Pakistani, Sayeed said that opening of cross LoC routes was the biggest ever Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between the two countries.
Taking a dig at ruling National Conference for trying to undermine the historic role played by PDP in opening of cross-LoC routes, Sayeed reminded that for decades NC leadership had exploited people in the name of opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. “In the name of opening traditional routes NC leadership only exploited sentiments of the people. Except securing votes by raking up emotions of the people, National Conference leadership has done nothing in this regard.”, he observed and added that people also have no hope that National Conference leadership would take any step for normalizing relations between India and Pakistan because leaders of this party (National Conference) have, a number of times, favored bombardment on Pakistan.”
PDP patron that people of the State had voted National Conference only for the governance and development but this party has failed to even carry forward the agenda of governance of the previous PDP led regime. “Situation has been returned back to pre-2002 because chaos and administrative anarchy has gripped the state once again”, he observed.
Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig regretted that Safai Karmacharies who were brought to State in 1957 have been struggling to get basic rights. He said that the then Government had promised to give these poor people all constitutional rights but it was unfortunate that these people were still struggling to get basic rights.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST