Separatist for cricket matches in Kashmir and PoK

Srinagar, June 22 (UNI) A separatist leader in Kashmir has written a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, urging them to allow a cricket series between the two neighbouring countries in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad as part of the confidence building measures (CBMs).

In the letter, People's Political Party (PPP) Chairman Hilal Ahmad War urged the two leaders to give the nod to the cricket matches between India and Pakistan in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

''As a part of the CBMs, a cricket series between India and Pakistan be arranged at Srinagar and Muzaffarabad which will go along way in boosting the conducive atmosphere and removal of mistrust and distrust among the two neighbours,'' he said.

Mr War said the cricket series between India and Pakistan would also help in the final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

He also demanded softening of the permit system for travel across the Line of Control (LoC) to promote greater people-to-people contact between the divided Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI AG DH RK1735