Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 24: Seeking support of the people, opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti said the party is committed to take forward its unfinished agenda of political resolution, economic development, restoration of people’s self-respect and dignity for the larger interests of peace and stability in South Asia.
Addressing public meetings at Lalpora and Haihama in Lolab in the North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the PDP chief today said the party with its clear thinking could bring about a perceptible and immediate change in the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, and will take it further if given a decisive mandate.
‘We could help in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan; the fear and insecurity on the ground was eliminated; the power sector was reformed and new development agenda was started with sincerity and dedication,’ said Ms Mehbooba, adding the opening of the Line of Control (LoC) for travel and trade helped in bridging the gapes between the two estranged neighbours and could help in a big way in reducing the trust deficit between them.
PDP reminded the leadership of our country and that of Pakistan that Kashmir issues will not vanish unless it is resolved and the process of reconciliation needs to be taken forward.
The tension on the borders was reduced and the historic ceasefire was enforced there, which didn’t get violated till 2010. ‘Since 1947, India and Pakistan tried to enforce ceasefire on the borders but they failed to do so till 2002. It was only when the PDP could create conducive atmosphere on the ground, ceasefire was not only implemented but was religiously followed,’ Mehbooba said and regretted things are back to square one now and the National Conference (NC) led Government could only reverse the gains made earlier. She said the ceasefire will continue to remain hostage to prevocational and hawkish utterances, if peace-process is not taken forward seriously.
Relations between the two countries will not smoothen unless the stakes of people are developed in the peace process.
The hassles in getting the travel documents need to be removed to pave way for more public interaction. The cross-LoC travel should not remain confined to the divided families only, in order to increase more people to people contacts its ambit needs to be broadened, Ms Mehbooba said.
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