Patron Peoples Democratic Party Mufti Muhammad Sayeed
Jammu, February 27, (Scoop News)-Welcoming resumption of cross-LoC trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route, Patron Peoples Democratic Party Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Thursday once again batted for opening of all the traditional routes through Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh and Kargil regions so as to facilitate strengthening of ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Addressing a public meeting here organised by Party leader Rashid Malik at Sunjwan, on the outskirts of winter capital of state, the former Chief Minister said that healthy, cordial and peaceful relations between Indian and Pakistan were always in the interest of the two nations and every effort should have been made to carry forward the efforts undertaken by the previous government in state.
Reiterating that the cross-LoC trade and travel are the only achievements for the people of Jammu and Kashmir since independence in their effort to end the siege around the state, Sayeed said that time has come to take these relations to next level. “The trade and travel across the Line of Control shall not only be strengthen but a more effective mechanism should be established to curb any attempt to cause a setback to the process of reconciliation started in 2003”, he said.
He said that the process, which was historic in its very character, has been threatened on many occasions. It is the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which have always been at the receiving end of the hostilities between India and Pakistan and the recent ceasefire violations stands testimony to the fact, he said adding, “Unfortunately the ruling dispensation in the state, over the last five years, has been a mute spectator every time attempts to cause a dent to the process of reconciliation were made”.
The PDP patron said it is unfortunate that the trade and travel between the two sides has not developed to the level, as it should have been this time, but expressed hope that the “two countries will read the writing on the wall and do away with the past baggage of hatred and animosity.”
PDP, he said, will continue to struggle for opening up of all traditional routes through Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh and Kargil regions and lifting curbs on travel and trade to create an Economic Free Zone (EFC) across the state that has tremendous natural resources and could become one of the most affluent regions of the country.
Spokesperson S Rangil Singh, Senior Leader Ved Mahajan, Yashpal Sharma, Hussain Ali Waffa, Ch Hamid, MLA Ch Zulfikar, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Deepender Kour, Surjeet Kour, Amreek Singh Reen, Haji Taj Khan, Surender Choudhary, Sukhdev Sharma, Balbir Singh, Haji Shaq Mohd, Khadim Choudhary, Showkat Malik, Zaffar Choudhary and others were also present on the occasion.
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