Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today stressed for end to tension along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir and appealed India and Pakistan to resume dialogue and build bridges of peace.
While addressing a peace rally at historic Lal Chowk, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti appealed the United Progressive Alliance and BJP leadership at Centre and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir peacefully through dialogue. “People of Jammu and Kashmir don’t want war but friendship between the two countries”, said Mehbooba.
The PDP president said that for past few months there is war like situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and people living near the borders are terrorised. “The people of the State don’t want war but peace and development”, she said.
Mehbooba said that the PDP always wanted that Jammu and Kashmir should act as bridge of peace between the two countries and not become a battle field. She said it was during PDP’s tenure in the Government in 2003, that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee not only started peace process with Pakistan but talks with the Hurriyat leaders were also held.
“We went to Vajpayee not with a begging bowl but with an appeal that he should help in resolving the J&K issue; and he responded and things changed drastically on the ground”, she said adding it was unfortunate to see the double standards being adopted when it comes to China and Pakistan.
The PDP leader said: “It is appreciable that China’s diplomatic offences like staple visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir or Arunachal Pradesh and incursions in Ladakh are sought to be resolved through civilized diplomatic means but when it comes to Pakistan, unfortunately, the hawks seem to prevail who advocate nothing short of war.”
Mehbooba targeted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his recent statement in which he had stressed the centre for using other options against continued ceasefire violations of Pakistan along the LoC and IB. “When countries are coming closer to each other in the world to enhance bilateral co-operation, talking of war is totally illogical and anti people”, she added.
Speaking on the occasion, the senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that the bullets kill only Kashmiris whether fired from here or from the other side.
“Those who talk of war between the estranged nations can’t be friends of Kashmiris. PDP during its brief tenure in the Government created conducive atmosphere in the State which guided India and Pakistan to come close to each other”, said Baig.
Prominent among the PDP leaders who attended the rally included Deputy Speaker Mohammed Sartaj Madni, senior leaders Tariq Hamid Qarra, Dilwar Mir; legislators, Ab Rehman Veeri, Nizamudin Bhat, Gaffar Sofi, Basharat Bukhari , Khalil Bandh, Javed Mustafa Mir, Abdul Haq Khan, Zahoor Ahmed Mir, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Rafi Mir, Choudhry Zulufqar, Abdul Razaq Zawoora, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Dr Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Ashraf Mir.
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