Dialogue only way to resolve all Indo-Pak issues: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
‘Dialogue is the only option to establish peace in this region’
Jammu: PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday said India and Pakistan should take reconciliation process to its logical end for restoring sustainable peace in the sub-continent, asserting that dialogue is the only mean to resolve all Indo-Pak issues.
"India and Pakistan should take reconciliation process to its logical end for restoring sustainable peace in this region," Mufti said while addressing a public rally in Poonch district.
Saying that dialogue is the only mean to solve all vexed problems, Mufti reiterated commitment of his party to act as a facilitator to normalise Indo-Pak relations and to restore lasting peace in the sub-continent.
Mufti was addressing series of public meetings at Mendhar, Surankote and Poonch assembly segments in support of party candidates.
He said the biggest challenge before the new Central government is to deal with the sensitive issue of Jammu and Kashmir and to address aspirations of the people of the state.
Mufti also referred to a recent statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he had promised to follow the holistic path shown by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee while dealing with problems of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Foundation for restoring peace between India and Pakistan was laid when Vajpayee had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan on April 18, 2003 while addressing a public meeting at Srinagar," he said.
"Dialogue is the only option to establish peace in this region," Mufti said, adding that "former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had stated that we can change friends but not neighbourers so both the neighbouring countries have no option but to go for talks".
Expressing hope that both the countries should carry forward the process of peace and reconciliation, he said opening of cross-LoC routes was the biggest ever Confidence
Building Measures (CBMs) between two countries and credit for this goes to PDP only. "We are ready to play the role of facilitator in the process of normalising relations between two countries," he said.
Mufti further said that PDP was committed to restore old glory of Jammu and Kashmir when the region was a biggest trade centre.
"We want that this region should be made a free economic zone to get maximum investment by opening all the traditional trade routes," he said.
Mufti said his party would aggressively pursue its agenda of ensuring dignified peace and sustainable economic prosperity for the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the state.
Asserting that peace and development is the only agenda of his party, he said achievements of the previous PDP government were very much visible on the ground.
The construction of the Mughal road during his tenure was noticeable achievement of the previous PDP regime in this border district, he said.
Reiterating his commitment to make Poonch as the biggest trade centre, Mufti said opening of Mughal road and LoC for crossing and trade will change destiny of the people of Poonch.
Terming opening of points on LoC as most significant CBM since 1947, Mufti said that opening of Uri-Muzafferabad and Poonch-Rawlakote roads has liberated people of Jammu and Kashmir from seize which they had been facing after partition of the country.
While reminding the people about steps taken by the PDP regime to complete work on Mughal road, he told the people that Poonch would be soon emerged as "Gateway of Kashmir".
Coming down heavily on present NC-Congress regime for its failure on all the fronts, Mufti said, "governance deficit is not only increased in the last six years but what is a cause of a greater worry is the erosion of credibility of our democratic institutions."