Meeting of India-Pak PMs to foster peace: PDP

The PDP today expressed hope that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's expected meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York would help usher in a new era of peace, friendship and development.
"We hail the decision of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meeting at New York and hoped it would facilitate peace, friendship and development in the region," Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at Batote in Ramban district, 120 kms from here.

"Since friendship with neighbouring countries is inevitable for growth and progress of entire region, consensus among all political parties could put the desired pace and power into the process of dialogue," he observed and called all political groups to rise above partisan interests on this issue.
"Instead of sticking to hackneyed slogans, both countries need to adopt realistic and purposeful policy to resolve all issues including the vexed issue of Kashmir for lasting and sustainable peace in this region," Mufti said and hoped the peace process should be further accelerated after this meeting.
"Neither India nor Pakistan can afford hostility for long because peace is imperative for development and economic growth of both countries," he pointed out.

The PDP patron also expressed concern over reports of interference of security establishments in undermining democratic institutions in the state.