Mehbooba urges PM not to cancel Pakistan visit

Srinagar, June 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to cancel his proposed visit to Pakistan as it would give the much- needed boost to the sagging peace process between the two nations.

''Dr Singh's proposed visit to Pakistan should stay aboard in view of reconciliatory mood prevailing in the entire sub-continent.

This will not only be a rebuff to the hawkish elements, but also give the much-needed boost to the sagging peace process,'' she said in a statement here.

Ms Mufti said when the NDA Government was in power at the Centre almost all its Ministers, including the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, each armed with fresh initiatives to build the bridges of friendship had visited the neighbouring country.

The PDP President called for renewed efforts to carry forward the ongoing peace process which was poised at strategic crossroads with hawkish rhetoric overtaking the reconciliatory mood.

''The Indo-Pak rapprochement process seems to have reached a stalemate and is in danger of being hijacked by deeply entrenched bureaucracies and hardliners on both the sides,'' she added.

Ms Mufti called upon the leadership of both the countries to seize the historic moment without giving in to the hawkish rhetoric of the hardliners who want to squander the present opportunity for peace and stability in the region.

''Both India and Pakistan must exhibit political sagacity at this crucial juncture to prevent a breakdown of the peace process and ensure that they do not return to enmity and bitterness of the past,'' she added.

Ms Mufti said an overwhelming public opinion in both the countries was in favour of peace and wanted the process to succeed.

She expressed surprise and dismay over the recent statement of BJP President Rajnath Singh demanding a halt on the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

''Unfortunately, out of power, the BJP is now playing petty politics with the peace process that was started as a path-breaking initiative by the NDA government headed by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee,'' Ms Mufti said, adding Mr Vajpayee had even declared his willingness to move off the beaten track in search of a settlement.

UNI