Tarigami seeks safe return of Kashmiri youth from PoK

Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today urged both India and Pakistan to facilitate the return of youth who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training and were now willing to return and join the mainstream.

Presenting a paper at the second round-table conference chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, he also called upon the two countries to ease restrictions on travel documents to ensure maximum possible people-to-people contact on both sides of the LoC.

''Both India and Pakistan should facilitate the return of youth who crossed the LoC during the turmoil and now want to live a peaceful life,'' Mr Tarigami told the conference.

He also urged the two countries to encourage extensive academic, legislative, social, cultural, media and sports interaction across the LoC.

''Identify and initiate joint development and environment projects in areas of mutual interest across the LoC. Both the governments should evolve a mechanism for joint management of water resources, electricity, tourism and environment,'' the CPI(M) state secretary said.

He said trade in goods and services should be developed through all traditional routes across the LoC.

Besides, roads and buses plying between the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir, it was high time to restore telephone links across the LoC, Mr Tarigami stressed.

''At the time of signing the Indus-Basin treaty, the interests of the state have not been suitably accommodated due to which the state has suffered huge losses as such Jammu and Kashmir should be compensated for the losses,'' the CPI(M) leader demanded.

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