Mufti calls for maintain spirit of cease-fire

Srinagar, October 20 (Scoop News)- Expressing his serious concern over growing incidence of the violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) along Jammu and Kashmir, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said skirmishes on borders was result of the failure of both India and Pakistan governments to take peace process to the logical conclusion. He, however, said that instead of reacting in knee jerk manner India and Pakistan should maintain spirit of the cease fire because escalation of hostility is not in the interests of the common masses of both the countries.
“The situation necessitate that instead of indulge into provocative utterance both the countries should continue this process of dialogue to prevent another era of turmoil in this sub-continent Mufti said while addressing meeting of the district committee of PDP Kulgam He recalled how residents of Jammu and Kashmir had faced worst situation during hostility between India and Pakistan before announcement of cease-fire on the borders in the year 2003.Common people, particularly those living in the border areas, have been facing the brunt of shelling on the borders and have been frequently uprooted from their hearths and homes”, he said and added that recent skirmishes on the borders have inflicted more severe physical and psychological injuries to the border inhabitants because cease fire announced in 2003 was longest sustaining ceasefire and people have started living peaceful permanent settled lives on the borders.
While cautioning against dangerous consequences of any escalation of confrontation, he reminded that it was during the NDA regime that a composite dialogue process was started which ultimately led to peace on the borders. “When the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had extended hand of friendship towards Pakistani during historic rally at Srinagar on April 18, 2003, tension was high on the borders and there was an eye ball to eye situation”, he recalled and hastened to add PDP through its pro-peace polices convinced both the neighbouring countries to break the ice and take some Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) for restoration of peace in this region.Unfortunate many quarters observed that ceasefire announced on the borders in the year 2003 was end of the problem so no further follow-up action was taken to restore lasting peace in this region”, he observed and added that both the governments have failed to initiate new CBMs to the take the peace process to the logical conclusion.Prevailing situation on the borders is result of the failure of both the government to carry forward the pro-peace initiatives which was taken during the PDP led regime”, he said.Again cautioning leadership of both the countries against indulged into blame games, he said there was a need to carry forward the peace initiatives and to expand the process of cross-LoC cooperation and trade in Jammu and Kashmir that would help to create a new space for reconciliation in the region. “Indo-Pak cooperation is the key to resolve the region’s problems” he said and called upon the civil society in both the countries to respond to the emerging challenging situation so that the peace process should be taken to the logical end. District president of PDP Kulgam Nazir Ahmed Labbay also spoke on the occasion