By IANS,
Jammu : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saturday stressed that the involvement of the state’s people was necessary while formulating any roadmap for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“We welcome the positive beginning made by the India-Pakistan foreign secretaries and the leadership of both the countries will have to show political will to resolve the issue,” Sayeed said, addressing a public meeting at Mendhar town, near the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
He, however, cautioned that “peace in this region was not possible without involvement of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the process of solving the vexed Kashmir problem”.
Citing political developments in Pakistan, Sayeed said that strengthening of the democracy in Pakistan “would help in creating an atmosphere more conducive for the resolution of Kashmir problem and further accelerating the process of peace and reconciliation.”
The way the democratic system has been strengthening in Pakistan is a positive development in the growth of democracy in the region and would have a sobering effect all over the sub-continent, he said.
“Strong and sustainable democracy in Pakistan is in the interest of the people of this sub-continent,” Sayeed said and referred to the emergence of a strong civil society in Pakistan.
“With the strengthening of democratic forces in Pakistan, it is easier to pursue the policy of reconciliation and dialogue,” the PDP leader observed.
Reiterating his view that dialogue is the only way to restore lasting peace in thes sub-continent, Sayeed stressed the need of taking more confidence building measures (CBM) to take the peace process – “pioneered by the PDP” – to the logical end.