SRINAGAR: Making a strong case for peace between India and Pakistan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday appealed the two counties to resume dialogue, resolve Kashmir issue and build mutual friendship in the larger interests of peace and stability in South Asia.
In an emphatic disapproval of war rhetoric by some hawks in the country, in Pakistan and within Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP today held a Peace March in Srinagar.
The party president, Mehbooba Mufti and former deputy chief minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, in an open jeep led it up to Lal Chowk.
Earlier hundreds of people had gathered in Sheri Kashmir Park raising slogans against war and calling for resolution of Kashmir problem.
The rally then passed through Residency Road and culminated at Lal Chowk.
Amid slogans in support of peace between India and Pakistan, Mehbooba said that no citizen of Jammu and Kashmir was ready for war as they want peace and resolution and good relations between the two countries. She said in the present times, when countries are coming closer to each other in the world to enhance bilateral co-operation, talking of war is totally illogical and anti people. Wars cant solve issues and if peace has to prevail on the ground resolution of Kashmir issue was must. Mehbooba said the PDP wants Kashmir to become a bridge of understanding, cooperation and friendship between India and Pakistan and will put in every effort to get the estranged neighbours close to each other. Jammu and Kashmir should not become battle ground as it is this state that has suffered the most as a result of wars and our voices for peace can no more be ignored, said Mehbooba.
Mehbooba said it was during PDPs tenure in the government in 2003, that the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee not only started peace process with Pakistan but talks with the Hurriyat leaders were also held. We went to Vajpayee not with a begging bowl but with an appeal that he should help in resolving the Kashmir issue; and he responded and things changed drastically on the ground. She said it was unfortunate to see the double standards being adopted when it comes to China and Pakistan. It is appreciable that Chinas diplomatic offences like staple visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir or Arunachal Pradesh and incursions in Ladakh are sought to be resolved through civilized diplomatic means but when it comes to Pakistan, unfortunately, the hawks seem to prevail who advocate nothing short of war, she said.
Speaking on the occasion, the senior party leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that the bullets kill only Kashmiris whether fired from here or from the other side. Those who talk of war between the estranged nations cant be friends of Kashmiris. PDP during its brief tenure in the government created conducive environment in the state which guided India and Pakistan to come close to each other. He said from 1948 to 2003 the two countries were not able to enforce ceasefire on the borders but when Mufti Shaib took over as the chief minister of the state, ceasefire was implemented and there was no violation in it till 2010. But when National Conference took over there have been constant ceasefire violation. Biegh said that during PDP era India and Pakistan came closer to each other and people in the state started living with their heads high.
Senior party leader Tariq Hameed Karra along with the party General Secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir conducted the proceedings of the rally. All the legislators, senior leaders, district and Zonal presidents and prominent workers including Sartaj Madni, legislators, Ab Rehman Veeri, Nizamudin Bhat, Ab Gaffar Sofi, Basharat Bukhari, Khalil Bandh, Javed Mustafa Mir, Ab Haq Khan, Zahoor Ahmed Mir, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, M Rafi Mir, Choudhry Zulufqar, Ab Razaq Zawoora, Mushtaq Ah Shah, Dr Shafi, Ashraf Mir MLC, Altaf Bukhari, Khurshid Alam, Gh Nabi Lone Hanjura, Gh Mohiudin Sofi, Mufti Mohammad Amin, district presidents Peer Mohammad Hussain, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Shafi Bandey, Yasir Reshi, Nazir laway, Saifudin Bhat ,state secretaries Javaid Hussain Baig, Zaffar Manhas, Imran Ansari, Ab Rahim Rather.
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