Open more links with PoK, says Mehbooba

J&K Chief Minister calls for regular tours across the LoC

A file picture of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Pitching for an “amicable solution”, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called all stakeholders to push for measures to “free caged Kashmiris”.

“My father [late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed] would say Kashmiris are caged. There is need to free Kashmiris…One can jail an idea but cannot kill it,” said Ms. Mufti, while addressing her supporters on the 18th Foundation Day of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar.

Appeals to parties

Appealing to the leadership of the National Conference, the Congress and the BJP to “join her in addressing the issues confronting the State and mitigating the pain of its residents”, Ms. Mufti reiterated her party’s stand to open up more links with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “There should be regular tours across the dividing line (Line of Control) of students, professionals and other groups to know each other better. It will promote people-to-people contacts and lower the intensity of acrimony on the two sides of the divide,” the CM said.

She called for a re-opening of traditional routes between Jammu and Sialkot, Kargil and Skardu, and Nowshera and Jhanger in Jammu and Kashmir.

“What the PDP achieved since 2002 needs to be taken forward. Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's way is the only way forward,” said Ms. Mufti.

She advocated opening up of new areas like “tourism, disaster management, water resources, energy” between the two parts of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir.

“The State’s Legislative Assembly has some seats reserved for residents of people on the other side of the State which, once filled, would help in minimising their misperceptions about the State,” said Ms. Mufti.

She called for the adoption “of an insulating mechanism as is in place at Wagha-Attari trade point to check any trading malpractice”.