Srinagar, Nov 26 (KNS): Former Chief Minister and President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that instead of bloodshed and attempts to enforce silence of graveyard, Kashmir can be resolved through Kartarpur like initiatives.
The PDP chief also pitched for the opening of Sharda Peeth in Kashmir across the LOC where Hindu devotees and pilgrims could go without hassle as it was a major centre of learning at par with the ancient seats of learning Nalanda and Taxila. She said that in Jammu and Kashmir, a major breach has been made in the mindsets of decades by opening Muzafarabad, Chakan da Bagh and Poonch Rawalakot routes for the people.
Mehbooba said in a statement that the decision taken by Pakistan is appreciable and same was reciprocated with grace and statesmanship by the leadership of our country. “Bold, honest and humanitarian initiatives are needed to resolve Jammu and Kashmir problem. It is worthwhile to witness that Kartarpur corridor was opened on a day when so many human lives were taken by terrorism in Mumbai in 2009. If we continue with this response, there is no reason why Jammu and Kashmir problem should not be settled,” she said.
Mehbooba said that by taking the decision of opening the Kartarpur corridor, country’s leadership has exhibited statesmanship that too when electoral exercise is on. However the PDP chief said it appears that voters are unmindful of this and in fact this could become a model for the future. “It has given us an idea that electoral considerations cannot any longer hold back the governments from taking decisions that are aimed to improve the ties between two countries,” she said.
Condemning the present spree of killings in Kashmir, the PDP President said that as the wounds inflicted by past violence were still seeking, 23 people have been killed this week alone in Valley making this period one of the bloodiest in its history.
Urging the youth to shun the path violence, she said there are solutions available within the democratic and diplomatic space and we must give that a try.
She also disapproved of the idea of some people that by killing the youth Kashmir problem will vanish or go away.
Expressing deep sense of loss for the continuing bloodshed with includes teenage gunmen, civilians and armed forces, the PDP chief said each one of them counts for a tragedy at an individual level.
She added that the people at helm should stop looking at Kashmir with jaundiced eyes and adopt humanitarian approach in resolving the crises which loom large in the state menacingly. “Trigger happy approach will not solve the Jammu and Kashmir problem. Confidence building measures, dialogue and reconciliation are the only ways that could protect the state from an apocalypse,” Mehbooba said. (KNS)