Poonch,November 26, (Scoop News)- Reiterating that dialogue is the only mean to solve all vexed problems, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that India and Pakistan should take reconciliation process to its logical end for restoring sustainable peace in this region.
Addressing series of public meetings at Mendhar, Surankote and Poonch assembly segments in support of party candidates, Mufti reiterated commitment of his party to act as a facilitator to normalize Indo-Pak relations and to restore lasting peace in the sub-continent.
Mufti is of the opinion that biggest challenge before the new government at New Delhi is to deal with the sensitive issue of Jammu and Kashmir and to address aspirations of the people of the State.
Pointing towards the recent statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he had promised to follow the holistic path shown by former Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajapyee while dealing with problems of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said that foundation for restoring peace between India and Pakistan was laid when Mr Vajpayee had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan on April 18, 2003 while addressing a public meeting at Srinagar. “Dialogue is the only option to establish peace in this region”, he said, adding, “Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had stated that we can change friends but not neighbourers so both the neighbouring countries have no option but to go for talks”. He hoped that both the countries should carry forward the process of peace and reconciliation.
Highlighting the historical role played by the PDP in normalizing relations between India and Pakistani, he said that opening of cross LoC routes was the biggest ever Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between two countries and credit for this goes to PDP only. “We are ready to play the role of felicitator in the process of normalizing relations between two countries”, he said.
He further said that PDP was committed to restore old glory of Jammu and Kashmir when this region was a biggest trade centre. “We want that this region should be made a free economic zone to get maximum investment by opening all the traditional trade routes”, he said.
“The process of the State’s political and economic transformation started by the PDP has to be taken to the logical conclusion with the peaceful and amicable settlement of all issues,” he said and added that his party would aggressively pursue its agenda of ensuring dignified peace and sustainable economic prosperity for the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the State.
Asserting that peace and development is the only agenda of his party, Mufti said that achievements of the previous PDP government were very much visible on the ground. He said that previous regime, with the support of the people, had translated its promises into realities.
He said that construction of the Mughal road during his tenure was noticeable achievement of the previous PDP regime in this border district.
Reiterating his commitment to make Poonch as biggest trade centre, Mufti said that opening of Mugal road and LoC for crossing and trade is going to change destiny of the people of Poonch.
Terming opening of points on LoC as most significant CBM since 1947, Mufti that opening of Uri-Muzafferabad and Poonch-Rawlakote roads has liberated people of Jammu and Kashmir from seize which they had been facing after partition of the country. While reminding the people about steps taken by the PDP regime to complete work on Mughal road, he told the people that Poonch would be soon emerged as “Gateway of Kashmir” and this belt would be a biggest business centre of this sub-continent. He reminded that during the regime of PDP led regime various steps were taken for the development of this land locked border district of Poonch.
He further added that PDP was committed to revive Jammu and Kashmir’s unique distinctiveness in the region and efforts of the party have yielded results as the state as many intra and inter-state routes were opened during previous PDP led regime, .
He observed that with better and faster connectivity with the rest of the State, the border district of Poonch would soon touch new heights of economic prosperity.
Coming down heavily on present regime for its failure on all fronts, Mufti said, “Governance deficit is not only increased in the last six years but what is a cause of a greater worry is the erosion of credibility of our democratic institutions”,
He said that governance deficit and trust deficit are the main causes of ever increasing alienation of the people so there is a need to restore peoples’ faith in governance and democracy. He pointed out that it was PDP that had given credibility to the democratic institutions of J&K.
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