NEW DELHI, Jan 23 APP: India firmed up steps on Wednesday for easing movement of people and goods across the Line of Control in a high level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here. The important and crucial meeting on Kashmir was convened by the Prime Minister to evolve a “blueprint for a new future” in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.
During the meeting, it was decided to take up the matter with Pakistan at the earliest to facilitate traveling between two parts of Kashmir. Prime Minister directed the officials to consume minimum time for clearing passengers intending to travel across LoC through service.
Among others who attended this high level meeting were Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, IHK Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.
Official sources quoting media reports said the meeting also decided to take up matters with Pakistan on encouraging pilgrim tourism across LoC, facility of no travel permit for senior citizens and encouraging trade between both sides of Kashmir.
During the meeting a relief package for Kashmiri pandits and support for dependents of ilitants killed in police encounters were also finalized.
Such package for providing a relief package to Kashmiri pundits, who had migrated from the valley after the start of militancy will be finalized after consultation with other central Ministries.
The issues relating to the refugees from Pakistan, who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 was also discussed and the concerned Ministries were directed to make an assessment before finalsing the package for them.
The sources said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to announce “people-friendly package “ during his visit to IHK as 2008 is the election year for the occupied state.
During the course of the meeting the Prime Minister reviewed the recommendations prepared by the Standing Committee and a Monitoring Mechanism which was set up after the third roundtable conference on Kashmir last year for ensuring implementation of proposals submitted by the working groups on Kashmir.
Last year while setting up the two committees, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced that his government was working for a “blueprint for new future” for Kashmir.