Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar Sept 9: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti, today threatened to launch an agitation against India and Pakistan for ignoring Jammu and Kashmir in the yesterday’s Confidence Building Measures (CBMS) announced by the two countries at the end of Foreign Ministerial level talks in Islamabad.
While addressing a hurriedly arranged press conference this evening, Mehbooba said that leaving out Jammu and Kashmir in CBMS will further deepen the sense of alienation among the people of the State.
The PDP president said that the Jammu and Kashmir-centric CBMs agreed between the two countries last year should be implemented to sustain positive atmosphere in the State.
“Kargil-Skardu road, expansion of travel facility to people besides divided families, banking facility for traders on the both sides of the Line of Control were agreed upon last time and the same should be implemented,” said Mehbooba.
The PDP president expressed apprehension about the two countries trying to end the process of trade and travel between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir”. “They want to move back instead of moving ahead,” she alleged.
Mehbooba said Jammu and Kashmir can act as bridge and cement relations between the two countries. “But Jammu and Kashmir should be first to reap benefits of the reconciliation between the two for everlasting relationship. The Prime Minister is committed to make borders irrelevant here but, unfortunately, that process is restricted to Wagah only,” she said.
Mehbooba expressed her disappointment over what she said that Jammu and Kashmir was left out in Indo-Pak Confidence Building Measures that were signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two neighboring counties in Islamabad yesterday.
“Why the steps like allowing movement of people, besides relatives, are not being extended to routes in Kashmir, which connects with the other Kashmir? When Wagah can open for trade, tourism etc, then why not Kashmir routes?” asked Mehbooba.
She claimed that the peace process started between the two countries in 2003 created a positive atmosphere in the State. “The reconciliation between the two nations started in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003 with the opening of roads and ceasefire. These revolutionary steps taken without any working groups and interlocutors changed ground situation in Kashmir,” said added.
The PDP President claimed that situation is deteriorating in Kashmir with juveniles and old leaders being put behind the bars by the NC led Coalition Government.
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