KASHMIR-LD MEHBOOBA 2

Expressing anguish over the continued violence and Expressing anguish over the continued violence andkillings, Mehbooba sought involvement of all the stakeholdersfor resolution of the problems facing J and K and improvingthe situation in the state. She said the focus of the State government, Government ofIndia and all other parties in the country is to reach out tothe majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir whowant peaceful solution of the problem. "Every political party wants the bloodshed in Kashmir toend and a political process to begin, sooner the better," shesaid and added that all the parties, cutting across thedivide, including the Hurriyat leaders shall have to comeforward and help in saving innocent lives as also engage in ameaningful dialogue process for the peaceful resolution of theproblems. On the All Party delegation, she said, "I hope they willmeet different shades of political opinion to elicit theirviews on how to find a way out of the present imbroglio." Urging Pakistan to reciprocate with open mind and in goodfaith to the peace initiatives for the permanent settlement ofthe Kashmir issue, she said unfortunately Islamabad lost outon a "golden opportunity for reconciliation when PrimeMinister, Narendra Modi landed in Lahore December last andwhen Home Minister, Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recentlyfor the SAARC ministerial meeting. "Pakistan also has to take a step forward in the interestof peace and stability in the region," she said. "Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan wasfuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our Home MinisterRajnath Singhji went to Lahore, but again, unfortunately,Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend thecourtesy that needs to be given to a guest," she said. She also advised Islamabad to take a leaf out if itsformer President Pervez Musharraf’s Kashmir policy who hadopined that the UN resolution on Kashmir had no space in thepresent world. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was onthe foundations of Vajpayee’s Kashmir policy and to carryforward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words ofher father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed whohad said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be bythe Prime Minister who enjoys two-third majority. "If things don’t happen during his tenure, it won’thappen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step ofgoing there, today again says we need to talk to our ownpeople, because people are dying," she said. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget tofind a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPAdid," she said. PTI SKL GSNGSN