Mufti emphasises on meaningful dialogue with Pakistan

'Normal relations between India and Pak must for socio-economic growth of South Asia'

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today emphasised on the need of evolving a consensus across the country's political spectrum to initiate a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan to solve all issues, including that of Kashmir.

"There is a need of evolving a consensus across political spectrum of the country to initiate meaningful dialogue with Pakistan to solve all issues, including Kashmir," PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at Doda, 175-kms from here.

Normal relations between India and Pakistan was must for the socio-economic growth of people of South Asia, he said asking all political parties, particularly BJP, that the issue of continuation of dialogue with Pakistan should be above partisan political interests.

He reminded it was during the NDA regime in 2003, a composite and meaningful dialogue process was started with Pakistan under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee, which had yielded encouraging results.

"It would do no credit to Vajpayee's successors in BJP to oppose dialogue with Pakistan," he argued adding, "BJP should stop viewing the process with suspicion".

"Dialogue is the only way to restore lasting peace in the region, so our party would aggressively pursue this process," he asserted and called upon party workers to contribute for restoring regional peace.

Reiterating that the National Conference leadership has never allowed democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said people have a genuine feeling that democratic institutions were being sabotaged.

"Democracy is the best way to address people's aspirations and to involve them in the governance," he said.

Mufti assured the people of Chenab Valley that PDP has formulated a comprehensive programme for the region's socio-economic growth.