Separatist, mainstream in J

Srinagar, Sep 17 (UNI) Cutting across party lines, all mainstream and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the resumption of stalled India-Pakistan dialogue following a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf on the margins of NAM Summit at Havana yesterday.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said the two visionary leaders have cleared the way for the peace process to be raised to a higher level that should ultimately culminate in peaceful resolution of all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said the joint statement that followed the significant meeting between Dr Singh and Gen Musharraf has signaled a new readiness to embrace fresh ideas in search for pragmatic, feasible and practical solutions to the problems of the region.

''The joint statement indicates the desire of both the leaders to break away from the past legacies and take a new path to establish long lasting peace in the region,'' he added.

Mr Sayeed said the decision of the two leaders to continue the search for mutually acceptable options for peaceful settlement of all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, has given a new hope to the people of the troubled state.

He said being a highly emotional issue, a solution to the Kashmir issue must be perceived as ''honourable and implementable'' by the parties concerned.

''All sides now realise that their stated positions of the last 59 years are not realistic and compromises will have to be made to workout a mutually acceptable solution of this wrangled problem,'' the PDP leader said, adding that the views and involvement of the people from all the regions of the state was equally important to any lasting solution.

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