Qayyum Khan calls for making Jammu-Kashmir ''danger-free area

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Former 'President' of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan today stressed on the need for strengthening the India Pakistan peace process and making Jammu and Kashmir a ''danger-free area''.

''We should strengthen India and Pakistan peace process and work towards making Kashmir a danger-free zone... Terrorism should not be allowed to become an excuse for stalling the process,'' Mr Khan at the second Intra Jammu and Kashmir 'Heart-to-Heart' talks here.

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resolve not to allow terrorism stall the peace process, Mr Khan said some vested interests did not want the Kashmir imbroglio to be resolved.

''Kashmir has become a global business centre and international players are involved. Some selfish people have vested interests and they don't want it to be resolved,'' he added.

Critising separatists for not attending the third Round Table, convened by the Prime Minister, he said efforts to find a solution to the issue should be backed.

''If we cannot provide any solution, we can at least back the efforts for finding a solution. Such conclaves should continue in the larger interest of the people,'' he observed.

''I would have loved to attend the Round Table had the government of India invited me... I was in town at that time,'' he added.

Mr Khan, along with 17 other political leaders from POK, had arrived here on April 23, a day before the Roundtable to participate in the Intra-Jammu and Kashmir Heart-to-Heart conference.

The former PoK Prime Minister stressed that he was against any division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI