By IRNA,
Srinagar, India : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday termed good Indo-Pak relations imperative for peace and development in both countries adding Jammu and Kashmir has always been recipient of dividends of thaw in Indo-Pak relations.
Addressing a public meeting in the frontier Keran area, situated on the Line of Control (LOC) on Monday, the Chief Minister underlined the need for free trade and travel across the dividing line to enhance economic activities and broad-base people’s interactions.
Omar, who is under intense pressure due to the ongoing pro-independence movement, stressed on brotherly Indo-Pak relations and said that dialogue between the two countries in a friendly atmosphere will pave the way for settling all issues and contributing for lasting peace in the sub-continent.
“In the last 60 years period we have witnessed three and a half wars between the two countries without yielding any positive result. This highlights the need for addressing the issues peacefully”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the bad affects of gun and violence has engulfed Pakistan and there is immediate need for this country to join hands with India to fight the terrorism and help cultivate peace for the larger interests of the two people.
Omar welcomed the Government of India’s recognition of the fact that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India had taken place under unique circumstances necessitating addressing political issues of the state in a special manner. He also welcomed the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on the issue of autonomy for Kashmir and said that time has provided a historic opportunity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to take the advantage.
He said that he has always advocated addressing political issues of Jammu and Kashmir politically and his party has stood for the restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
On the present law and order situation in the valley, the Chief Minster said that stone pelting and violence will never prove prudent for anyone to ventilate his opinion and stress on the issues.
58 people have been killed in police firing on stone pelting protesters in last two months in Kashmir.
“We have undergone a saga of militancy and we know it has yielded nothing for us” he said and appealed to all shades of the people to help restore normalcy and work for peaceful settlement of political issues on table. “When dialogue process is available why to resort to stone pelting and strikes” he questioned the leaders perpetrating these tactics adding that when they can discuss anything on the table and put forth any solution to the problems in a free and fair atmosphere of dialogue where is the need to disturb the peace and put everyone in trouble.