Hope PM's steps for peaceful ties with Pak bear fruit: J-K guv

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today expressed hoped that the initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve ties with Pakistan will bear fruit as he stressed that India remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours.
"India remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours and our prime minister has launched fresh initiatives for securing peaceful ties with Pakistan," he said in his message to the people of the state on the eve of the 67th Republic Day.
"It is hoped that his (Modi's) endeavours will bear fruit and the people of J-K would be able to live and work in a peaceful environment in the coming time," he said.

The governor observed that it was the duty of all citizens to protect and preserve the unity and integrity of the nation.
All must join hands to negate any divisive and communal forces and promote social harmony and brotherhood, Vohra said, adding that it is equally important that we learn to settle our disputes and disagreements through dialogue and discussion.
It is necessary to remember that we shall be able to achieve growth and development and eradicate poverty and illiteracy only if peace and normalcy prevails in the land, he said.

Referring to the development scenario in the state, Vohra observed that for more than two-and-a-half decades now, growth and development of J-K has been adversely affected by the continuing proxy war.

In the past year, besides the repeated incidents of cross- border firing and infiltration attempts, there were five terror attacks -- two across the LoC in the Tangdhar sector, two across the IB in Samba and Kathua, and one at Udhampur, he said.
In a major surprise, Modi had flown to Lahore on December 25 last year, his first touchdown in Pakistan, to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.