Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 1 (ANI): People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said she has written to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, urging them to resume dialogue, while welcoming recent remarks by senior RSS leaders in support of engagement between the two neighbouring countries.
She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seize the opportunity to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir issue through talks, saying lasting peace would benefit the entire region.
Speaking to ANI, Mufti said, ‘I am pleased that senior RSS leadership, including figures like Dattatreya Hosabale and Mohan Bhagwat, along with several other leaders, have stated that there should be talks with Pakistan. There should be the movement of people, mutual interaction, and an exchange of ideas. It echoes exactly what Vajpayee ji said: ‘You can change your friends, but not your neighbours.’ I feel this sentiment is gaining endorsement. We have written letters to the Prime Ministers of both India and Pakistan today.’
‘We recognise that no matter how powerful a Prime Minister may be, their legacy is not defined by their power or the duration of their tenure; rather, it is measured by the number of conflicts they resolved during their time in office. PM Modi currently has a golden opportunity regarding the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, an issue that has stalled the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). SAARC, an organisation our country, India, could have led, has effectively become defunct due to the Kashmir issue and the tensions with Pakistan,’ he said.
Mufti called for dialogue between India and Pakistan, saying Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to become a gateway connecting South Asia and Central Asia and could emerge as a hub of economic activity if relations between the two countries improve.
‘Look at the world, look at Iran and how it leveraged the Strait of Hormuz to command global attention. Similarly, Jammu & Kashmir can serve as a gateway connecting South Asia and Central Asia… Observe how Pakistan is leveraging its strategic location; our Jammu & Kashmir, too, possesses a unique strategic position and geography. If we transform Jammu and Kashmir into a gateway between Central and South Asia, it would not only alter the region’s landscape but also bring significant ease and benefits to our country,’ she said.
‘I believe we should engage in negotiations and reconciliation along the LoC and LAC, open the borders, and turn Jammu and Kashmir into a hub for economic activity… This is only possible through mutual dialogue. If both Prime Ministers wish to leave behind a positive legacy, especially given that Pakistan currently has a government where the army and the civilian administration are aligned, and we have a very powerful Prime Minister, they could achieve this. By resolving their differences and improving relations, they could transform Jammu and Kashmir into a bridge of peace between the two nations,’ Mufti added.
Mufti expressed optimism that Jammu and Kashmir could one day transform from a battleground into a bridge for peace between the two countries.
‘There are rumours about ‘Track II’ diplomacy talks taking place in Sri Lanka and Thailand, which is a positive development. This ‘Track II’ diplomacy involves retired diplomats and army personnel from both India and Pakistan meeting and holding discussions. Even the senior leadership of the RSS has endorsed the stance that dialogue should take place. I feel there is a glimmer of hope that something might happen; the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, currently mired in trouble and suffering, and serving as a battleground for the two nations, could transform into a bridge for peace,’ she further said.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma criticised calls for talks with Pakistan by some political leaders.
He said the timing was inappropriate when terrorism was on the decline and asserted that matters related to engagement with Pakistan fall solely within the domain of the Government of India.
‘It’s a great irony that some people have written letters to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan pleading for talks. I believe this issue is extremely sensitive and concerning… At a time when terrorism is on the verge of extinction, such statements do not befit them because this is neither the demand of the times nor are the circumstances such that they should demand talks with Pakistan… This is a highly condemnable matter, and it requires a thorough investigation… I believe that future generations will not forgive these people, especially Farooq Abdullah, who bears responsibility for the people here… This is not even their issue. This is an issue for the Government of India,’ Sharma told ANI. (ANI)
