Diplomatic row between India and Pak unfortuante: Shabir

Srinagar, Aug 6: Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmad Shah today said there is hope that India and Pakistan will take the peace process forward.

There are elements who are against the peace process between the two countries, Mr Shah told UNI.

He said the people are in favour of peaceful co-existence as enough blood had been shed since 1947 without achieveing anything.

Asked about the expulsion of an Indian diplomat by Pakistan, Mr Shah said such things have been going on for a long time.

When one country expells a diplomat, the other retaliates in the same manner, he said and added the same was witnessed yesterday.

Mr Shah said the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) taken by India and Pakistan had generated a hope among the people in South Asia that things will improve further and all the issues could be resolved peacefully.

Though there was no change on the ground in Kashmir after these CBMs but the people of the Jammu and Kashmir extended their support to the efforts of botht the countries, he said.

However, he said, the CBMs will not do any wonder in the relations between India and Pakistan till the 'Kashmir' issue is resolved as per the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI