Ceasefire violations could derail peace efforts: Mufti

Srinagar, Jul 29 (UNI) Expressing concern over the ceasefire violations on the border, People's Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Sayed Yousuf Raza Gilani must step in to arrest the escalating slide in the bilateral relations so that the peace process is brought back on track with renewed resolve.

Addressing PDP workers here today, he expressed concern over the recent unpleasant events, the latest being the reported violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC) in Kupwara sector yesterday.

He said the constructive spirit of goodwill in which the peace process was initiated and carried forward, must be speedily taken further and built on.

''The trust that had started evolving between New Delhi and Islamabad needs to grow if the sub-continent's complex issues, including Kashmir are to be resolved peacefully and amicably,'' he said and added that non-resolution of these issues has the potential of dictating and derailing the fragile peace and prosperity of the region at any moment.

Stressing the urgency of preventing the violation of ceasefire along the LoC, that was successfully holding for the past five years, Mr Sayeed said the LOC ceasefire had proved to be an event of unrivalled importance for not only the two countries but also for the people in all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

''For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the ceasefire is sacrosanct and I hope the two armies would also treat it with the same spirit,'' he said and added that the leadership of the two countries must act with political wisdom and do not allow the hawkish rhetoric to spoil the gains of the peace process.

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