Failure of Indo-Pak peace process will be horrendous: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Jan 12 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today said the gains of success of the peace process between India and Pakistan would be immense for the whole region, just as the consequences of the failure could be horrendous.

Addressing a party convention at Zadibal here, she expressed the hope for positive outcome of the Foreign Ministerial-level talks between India and Pakistan, saying people of Jammu and Kashmir were optimistic for dignified peace in the state.

The PDP president said the past four years have witnessed changes of great importance and substance in Jammu and Kashmir, both at the political and development fronts.

''But of great significance, is the march forward on the political front and the growing participation of the people in the democratic processes,'' she added.

Ms Mufti said given the expectations of the people and the faith they have reposed in the democratic institutions, there was every reason to trust them and set off a mechanism for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

''Time has come to work through peaceful means and through public participation towards the resolution of the problem and restoration of permanent peace taking along the people from all the regions of the state,'' she added.

The PDP chief said developing of all-weather transport links between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country, connecting the divided parts of the state through traditional cross-border and cross-LoC road links and initiating sub-regional integration could not only facilitate peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, but significantly contribute to the region's economic fortunes.

Taking advantage of its natural location, Jammu and Kashmir could become a stepping-stone toward forging a new economic alliance in the region, she added.

''A network of existing and new roads connecting India and Pakistan through Jammu and Kashmir would not only open up some of the most spectacular parts of the world to tourism but also generate new economic activity in the region.'' Not only Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads that have already been opened for restricted movement of divided families, all traditional road links, including Suchetgarh-Sialkote and Kargil-Skardu, need to be opened and allowed to use by the common people for promotion of tourism and trade, Ms Mufti said.

UNI