'LoC building bridges of friendship between India-Pak'

Srinagar, July 1: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the Line of Control in the state has become a bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan after the Centre took some bold initiatives to carry forward peace and dialogue process.

Interacting with the European Union (EU) delegation headed by Baroness Emma Nicholson here, Mr Azad said after the United Porgressive Alliance (UPA) government took over at the Centre, a number of bold initiatives have been taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to carry forward the peace and dialogue process with Pakistan.

He said there has been a positive shift from the earlier position when armies of the two countries were eye ball to eye ball and the Kargil conflict further worsened relations.

But, he said, now the LoC has become a bridge of friendship between the two countries and their people.

He said many Confidence Building Measures (CBM) have been initiated and the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was a landmark in encouraging people-to-people contact.

Mr Azad said when he took over as the Chief Minister, the state, particularly in the areas bordering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) was grappling with the after-effects of the quake and rehabilitation of the people.

However, both the countries set up various exchange points along die Line of Control (LoC) to help provide relief to the affected families on either side.

The Chief Minister informed the delegation that CBMs are proving 'beneficial' for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have suffered a lot during last 18 years of militancy. He said the decision of opening of Poonch-Rawalakot road is yet another historic event. Mr Azad also informed the delegation that converting the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road into trade route will open a new chapter in the economic development of the state and provide expanded market to local products.

He said this will also go a big way to further improve the relations and enhance people-to-people contact.

He further said holding of Round Table Conferences (RTC) to address all issues is a historical development, saying the first RTC at Delhi was attended by all manistream political parties, He said Srinagar RTC subsequently resulted into yet another historical decision of formation of five working groups to address various issues confronting the people.

He said the groups will mainly deal with building confidence among the people particularly those who have suffered a lot during the violence, adding the working groups will also work for building confidence among the people, to improve relations, enhance opportunities of trade and commerce and simplify the procedure of travel across the LoC.

Mr Azad said working groups will also help address revive shattered economy of the state and help to creat good governance, The working group will also look into the matters relating to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

UNI