'Suspended talks to affect Indo-Pak peace process'

Srinagar, July 23: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah today said the gains made during the two and a half years of the peace process between India and Pakistan would be affected if talks are discontinued now.

''Discontinuation of the peace process between the two neighbours will prove a disaster for the people of the sub-continent,'' Mr Shah said at a public meeting at Sopore, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir today.

Urging both the countries to continue the dialogue process, he said it has generated a lot of hope and expectations among the people of both the countries. ''People want good neighbourly relations between the two countries,'' he said.

Condemning the Mumbai and Srinagar blasts in strongest terms, Mr Shah said these attacks should not be made an excuse for postponing the secretary level talks between India and Pakistan.

''Suspension of the talks will wash away the gains made during all these years of peace process,'' he said, alleging that India was not sincere in resolving the Kashmir issue. India is not serious about finding a durable solution to the Kashmir issue through peaceful means, he claimed.

The sacrifices made by the people of the Jammu and Kashmir during all these years will bear fruit soon, Mr Shah added.

About the series of attacks on tourists in Kashmir, Mr Shah said the attacks were carried out under a planned conspiracy.

He demanded an impartial inquiry into these incidents so that the perpetrators could be brought to justice.

Mr Shah strongly condemned the Isreali attacks on Lebanon and Palestine in which many innocent people, including women and children, were killed.

UNI

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