Kashmir would be key beneficiary of Indo-Pak thaw: CM Mufti Sayeed

Srinagar: Welcoming External Affairs Minster Sushma Swaraj's Pakistan visit, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday said Jammu and Kashmir would be the principal beneficiary of thaw between the New Delhi and Islamabad.

Addressing a gathering in south Kashmir Anantnag district, Sayeed said, "Jammu and Kashmir will be the principal beneficiary of the thaw between the two neighbouring countries."

The brief Paris meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif prepared ground for quiet NSA-level talks and the subsequent visit of Swaraj to Pakistan, he added.

Sayeed said during Modi's public rally in Srinagar last month, he had favoured holding of talks between the two neighbouring countries in the Subcontinent to usher in an era of peace and stability.

"This (talks) is a victory of the people of J&K, who have always aspired for friendly relations between India and Pakistan. I hope this new phase of reconciliation will bear positive results for all of us," he said.

Praising the maturity displayed by the leadership of both the countries to engage in bilateral talks, Sayeed hoped that the political uncertainty will come to an end and called upon those who have picked up guns to eschew violence, which hampers the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gun has yielded nothing except maligning the message of peace of Islam, Sayeed said adding the recent mass shooting incident in California has raised levels of intolerance against Muslims particularly in the United States and some of the other Western countries.

Even Imam-e-Kaaba has strongly condemned such acts of extremism by certain vested interests, which are out to distort the great religion of Islam, he added.

At least 14 people were recently killed and 17 others injured when a heavily-armed Pakistani-origin couple opened indiscriminate fire during a Christmas party at a centre for people with disabilities in California.

Describing cross-LoC travel and trade as a historic breakthrough between India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister highlighted the need to take this peace initiative to the next level by opening more trading and travel points across the state.

Crediting India's powerful democratic institutions as the real factor behind its rise as a leading world power, Sayeed said Pakistan, on the other hand, continues to grapple with political uncertainty even after almost 70 years of its existence.

Hailing those who preferred "ballot over bullet" in a series of elections held in Jammu and Kashmir, Sayeed said real power rests with the people who came out in large numbers to cast their vote.

He said the people have great expectations and the onus now lay on the government to provide them the rich dividends of peace in the form of development.

I thank the people for reposing trust and confidence in the government and I promise to deliver a prompt and just administration, which is responsive to the needs of the people, he asserted.