meaningful Indo-Pak dialogue imperative for peace in J K Mufti

Suchetgarh Jammu, Sept 16 (UNI) Peoples democratic party (PDP) patron and former chief minister, mufti mohammad sayeed today said a practical and meaningful dialogue beteen india and pakistan is imperative to push forward sustainable peace in the region.

Addressing a public meeting at sai near Indo-Pak Border this afternoon, mr. Sayeed said that it was heartening to note that there is a much greater realisation today-that both the countries have to walk to the table and sit together to settle all the disputes for their own well being and that of the region.

The region cannot afford the conflict that has kept its people away from realising the benefits of peace and global economic integration, he said adding that too much suffering has taken place, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, during the past six decades the leadership in the region has a great opportunity to overlook the bitter legacies of the past and explore a peaceful, honorable and implementable solution of this intractable problems, Mr Sayeed said.

He emphasised that while the dialogue proceeds to arrive at a common and mutally agreed framework for resolution of the kashmir problem, there should be side-by-side movement forward on promotion of travel, tourism and economic cooperation across the line of control (loc).

These processes would have to move in tandem with measures to establish a south asian economic community , he said adding that as the world celebrates 2007 as the 50th anniversary of the treaty of rome which was an important landmark in the movement towards a common european market and instutitions, it would be in the fitness of things if india and pakistan by that time move the region towards a south asian free trade india area.

He said the confidence building measures (CBM) on improved communication links and people-to-people contact have helped create a feasible environment for peace, but their impact largely depends upon the political will to implement them in both letter and spirit.

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