Peace, political stability imperative to benefit GenNext: Mufti

Jammu, Apr 9 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stressed for peace and political stability to make the next generation ''reap benefits of globalisation and economic liberalisation''.

''Unfortunately, due to continuing political uncertainty in the State, our youth have largely been deprived of the fruits of huge economic boom that has taken place in the country and the region during the past two decades,'' Mr Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at Vijaypur here.

The main cause of the region's economic deprivation and hostility, he said, ''is the Kashmir issue, which has affected not only India and Pakistan, but the people of all the regions of the state, one way or the other.'' However, the positive developments in the past four years that unfolded through the Indo-Pak peace process and various Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) had opened a window of momentous opportunity for amicable resolution of the (Kashmir) issue, he asserted.

''I am confident that Jammu and Kashmir would soon usher into an environment of peace and prosperity with a wonderful and progressive future for our coming generations, who have otherwise been at the receiving end of the uncertain situation,'' he said.

The PDP, Mr Sayeed emphasised, strongly believed that any solution to the Kashmir issue must address the basic grievances of the people in all the regions of the state by fully ensuring their participation in the process of governance and in running the day-to-day affairs.

This, PDP patron said, was the basic premise of his party's Self-Rule proposal that envisioned not only political but also the economic empowerment of the state's people. ''The greatest satisfaction for the PDP workers is that the party has played a significant though modest role in shaping up a new future for the state and the region,'' he added.

Given its strategic location, Mr Sayeed said, Jammu and Kashmir could not only become a hub, but a gateway for economic cooperation in the SAARC region as it had access to most of the neighboring countries through land routes.

''While opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, Poonch-Rawalakote and Kargil-Skardu roads is a historic step in this direction, Jammu region must also get cross-border connectivity through Suchetgarh-Sialkote road to facilitate free movement of people and goods in the area,'' he said.

''PDP's vision of a viable, economically strong and self-reliant Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh can be converted into reality only through increased access to the neighboring markets, with which it had traditionally strong connections through the historic Silk Route,'' he said.

UNI