Do not allow peace process to derail: Mufti

Srinagar, July 17: Concerned over the recent developments in India and Pakistan relations after the Mumbai blasts, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said both the countries should act with great caution and not allow the peace process to get derailed.

In a statement here,Mr Sayeed said the present situation, although presenting a dismal scenario, calls for bold measures by both the countries to put their act together with determination and slowly but steadily get back on the path of peace and reconciliation to identify and isolate the disruptive elements.

Espousing the concern of the common people, who are directly affected by any development on the Indo-Pak front, Sayeed said the people of the sub-continent in general and that of Jammu and Kashmir in particular are extremely worried over the developments that followed the Mumbai blasts, casting a shadow of despair on the peace process.

Mr Sayeed, the patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a partner in the coalition government in the state, said respecting people's overwhelming urge for reconciliation and harmony, India and Pakistan should act with great caution and not allow the peace process to get derailed.

''While the massacre of innocents in the Mumbai blasts calls for appropriate action against the perpetrators, at the same time any knee-jerk reaction to this reprehensible act in the larger context of Indo-Pak relations would offer an opportunity to the negative elements, who see the peace process as a threat to their vested interests,"he said.

At this crucial juncture the leadership of both the countries must exhibit the maturity and political sagacity and not allow the situation to be hijacked by the hawkish elements, obviously with more dangerous consequences.

He said a refreshing and productive scenario had started building up in the sub-continent with the initiation of CBMs and both the countries had started achieving new heights in the economic growth with the stabilization of the situation.

Opening of trans-border road links and proposed resumption of trade between two parts of Kashmir had generated great enthusiasm among the people here and their faith in democratic institutions was growing day by day.

He said a completely new political and economic scenario had started emerging in the State with the people actively getting involved with the political and democratic processes as they were seeing a silver lining emerging on the horizon of despair and desolation.

UNI

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