Open Kargil to outside world, says Mehbooba

‘J&K can reclaim its status of gateway to Central Asia’

NEW DELHI, 28/07/2017: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during a conference "Understanding Kashmir" A Composite dialogue on peace, stabililty and the way forward, in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Chief Minister on Saturday called for opening up of the Kargil region “to the outside world as a gateway to Central Asia”.

“Opening cross-Line of Control (LoC) routes can initiate a process of trade in the region by virtue of which J&K can reclaim its status of a gateway to the Central Asia,” said Ms. Mufti, who is on a tour of the cold desert region of Kargil. Referring to the “Agenda of the Alliance”, Ms. Mufti said throwing open strategic routes such as Kargil-Skardu and Turtuk-Khaplu roads “will help in the peace process”.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra’s Modi’s remarks on Kashmir in his Independence Day speech, Ms. Mufti said, “I saw reflection of [former Prime Minister Atal Bihari] Mr. Vajpayee in Mr. Modi. We hope Modi

ji will come with a sound policy on Kashmir. After the end of the Kargil war, Mr. Vajpayee initiated a peace process with Pakistan.”

She hoped Mr. Modi would walk on the path of Mr. Vajpayee and “initiate a new phase of peace process between the two countries and in Kashmir”.