PDP's Mehbooba Mufti welcomes Chidambaram's visit to Pakistan

Srinagar, Feb 5 (ANI): People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed Home Minister P. Chidambaram's proposed visit to Pakistan.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Mufti expressed hope for the visit, adding that it should act as a catalyst to activate the peace process between India and Pakistan.

"We have come to know the Home Minister is visiting Pakistan. We do definitely welcome that step. And we hope that his visit will take ahead the peace process that was started earlier, which had opened a way for a dialogue with Pakistan and even the Hurriyat Conference (Kashmir separatist party)," she added.

She also suggested that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani must settle all outstanding issues.

Mufti accused the Omar Abdullah government of being responsible for the deteriorating situation in the region.

"Slowly, the situation had improved in Kashmir for which many people sacrificed. Unfortunately, there has been a reverse in the last one year. The main disappointment is that the state government is not acknowledging this. The state government attributes the militancy to vested interests while New Delhi attributes this to infiltration, which is not true," Mufti added.

Chidambaram is expected to visit Islamabad on February 26 and 27 to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers Conference. (ANI)