PM Modi's call to Sharif a 'gigantic' step: PDP

Peoples Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to his Pakistani counterpart was a "gigantic" step and a good "omen" which could lead to peace and stability in the region.
"We appreciate the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reach out his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and resuming the Foreign Secretary-level talks," PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said here today.
He said this is a gigantic step to set a new agenda for reconciliation and resolution between the two countries.
In a statement, the PDP leader said that SAARC formatting of the initiative was a very constructive approach which could augur well for realising the economic potential of the South Asian region.

Mufti said the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister on his swearing in ceremony by inviting the SAARC leaders including Sharif had set the right tone for India's leadership role in the region but the calling off the secretary-level talks soon after had "blunted its potential".
"The resumption of talks and the Prime Minister's telephonic conversation with Sharif have come as a major intervention to revive the stalled peace process between our country and Pakistan," he said.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday called up his Pakistani counterpart Sharif and later announced that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will visit the country to "push bilateral agenda".

Mufti expressed hope that the new initiative by the Prime Minister Modi would lead to sustained and uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan.
"Such a peaceful atmosphere would allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to reap the benefits of democratic system in which they have repeatedly invested their faith," said Mufti.
The PDP patron said friendship between India and Pakistan is of prime importance for releasing the creative energies from decades long atmosphere of hostility of which J-K has been the main victim.
"Jammu and Kashmir has borne the brunt of wars, militancy and a destabilised political situation as a result of the conflict between the two countries, and it is a good omen that Prime Minister has taken up the bold initiative at a crucial stage of the state's history," the former chief minister said.

Mufti said he and his party have always placed great trust in the potential of SAARC not just on economic front but he looked up to it as "prospective boon" for a strategically located state like J-K which, unfortunately, has remained a bone of contention and continues to suffer from absence of a stable and peaceful atmosphere.
He said violence along borders for the last one year has resulted in casualties and it causes pain whether the victims are from our defense forces, or civilians on both sides of it.