Self- Rule could lead to resolution of Kashmir issue: PDP

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti

Claiming that self-rule was a vision of hope, political reconciliation and economic development that could lead to the final resolution of Kashmir issue, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said it has a potential of reconciling the positions of both India and Pakistan

Srinagar June 25: Claiming that self-rule was a vision of hope, political reconciliation and economic development that could lead to the final resolution of Kashmir issue, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said it has a potential of reconciling the positions of both India and Pakistan in accordance with aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Interacting with senior diplomats from the United Kingdom and Australia who called on her at her residence here today, she said the self rule document prepared by the PDP had the potential of resolving the issue peacefully to the satisfaction of all parties in the dispute.
Those who called on her, included a three member Australian delegation comprising first secretary of Australian High Commission, Tim Higgins, second secretary, Michael Cheyne, and Australia’s consultant on South Asia, Mike Hillman and a British High Commission delegation led by the first secretary (Political), Jasper Thorenten.
The diplomats discussed with the PDP president the current political scenario in the state and also exchanged views on the party’s current campaign for strengthening of civil society and democratic institutions in the sate.
Ms Mehbooba shared with them the perspective of the party on current status of the peace process besides discussing matters relating to youth like the unemployment problem and enhancing their employability.
She told the diplomats that the state had made impressive strides in rejuvenating democratic process through successive elections.
However, these needed to be followed up through bold initiatives from the country’s political leadership in order to fully empower the civil society and allow civil institutions to function without any interference.
She told the visiting diplomats that after having completed the anti insurgency operations, time was now ripe for the security forces to return to their primary job of guarding the borders while leaving the much improved law and order situation for the state police to handle.
Ms Mehbooba said Government of India has positively responded to the party’s suggestions in 2007 and established a defence committee to review the situation.
The Working Groups constituted by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, she recalled, had also endorsed the views of the PDP.
She expressed hope that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would, with the renewed mandate he had recently received, remove all hurdles in the peace process and revive confidence building process by conceding the demand for thinning of troops and revocation of special laws. UNI