'Carry on talks with Pak alongwith initiatives in JK'

New Delhi, Apr 24: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today calledfor supplementing the centre's initiative on Kashmir in the form ofRoundtable conferences by a ''sustained and result-oriented'' dialogueprocess with Pakistan to simultaneously take care of the externaldimensions of the problem.

PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, while speaking at the inauguralsession of the IIIrd Round Table Conference on Kashmir, said the momenthad arrived to chalk out a peaceful and prosperous future for theregion and it was now time to focus on the resolution of the problemand add substance to the dialogue process by addressing the specifics.

Participation by separatists in the conference would have made the deliberations more inclusive, he said.

The day-long conference organised at the initiative of PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh, was boycotted by all separatist groupsincluding both factions of the Hurriyat.

Chaired by the Prime Minister, it was attended by Home MinisterShivraj Patil, water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz, Jammu andKashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Security Advisor(NSA) M K Narayanan, National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah andOmar Abdullah and representatives of other political parties andKashmiri Pandits.

This was the third such conference. The first two were held in January, 2006, (Delhi) and May, 2006, in Srinagar.

Pointing out that substantial progress had been made by the fourWorking Groups, Mr Sayeed said their recommendations, henimplemented,would make a positive impact on the internal dimensions of the problem.

However, it was imperative to address the external dimensionsthrough a sustained and result-oriented dialogue process with Pakistanfor final settlement of the problem.

Speaking on the occasion, PDP President, Ms Mehbooba Mufti,reiterated her Party's demand for reduction in the number of troops inthe valley in a phased manner and handing over the responsibility tothe State police.

She also called for revocation of the Armed Forces Special PowersAct (AFSPA) and safe passage to the youth who had gone across theborder for arms training but now wanted to return and live peacefullives.

UNI