PDP presses for Kashmir resolution

JAMMU - Jammu and Kashmir’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday said that it would continue to fight for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and asserted that its self-rule document was the perfect way forward.

Addressing a one-day convention of the senior leaders of Jammu province, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the “resolution of Kashmir problem is the core issue for the party and PDP will continue its on-going campaign through democratic means.”

“People of Jammu and Ladakh are equal stakeholders in the problem, so PDP has involved residents of these two regions also in the debate to arrive at a consensus for the resolution,” she said.

“The self-rule document forwarded by the party is aimed at addressing problems of all the regions,” she said, and cautioned against pushing the “sensitive Kashmir issue under the carpet.”

She added that the “solution of this problem is a must for sustainable peace and economic growth of this region because resolution of this problem is key to the lasting peace and prosperity in entire south Asia.”

She also emphasised on expanding the scope of trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade and travel. She argued that to make the “historic 2005 initiatives more meaningful”, it was necessary to remove the hassles in the movement of goods and passengers.

According to her, the facility of visiting both sides of the LoC should not be restricted to just the divided families, but be extended to common citizens of the two sides as well.

“The opening of some points on LoC was a good beginning but lot more needs to be done,” she said.

Mehbooba Mufti also demanded the opening of Jammu-Sailkote, Bandipore-Gurez-Gilgit, Chhamb Jourian-Mirpur, Nowshera-Mirpur-Kotli and Teetwal-Chilhan routes to exploit the full potential of the region.

“Opening of all traditional routes through Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh would help the state in harnessing its inherent potential as a business centre as it was before 1947″, she said.