Boundaries can't be rewritten: Jaitley to Pakistan

Srinagar, Dec 3: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said Pakistan should understand once and forever that boundaries between nations cannot be rewritten now.

Addressing a gathering of local civil society and intellectuals here, Jaitley said: "Pakistan needs to understand once and forever that boundaries between nations cannot be rewritten now."

"Those few who believe resorting to violence can result in secession of any part of a country of over 1.25 billion people are badly mistaken," he added.

The minister said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power on earth can change this fundamental reality.

"Yes, there are problems and we are ready to discuss and resolve them," he said.

Jaitley said that he took charge as the defence minister when two youths were killed in Chattergam area in army firing.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked me to immediately find out the reality. I found out the truth and let me tell you, I became the first defence minister of the country to express regrets and apologise for the mistake on my Twitter handle," he said.

"Within less than a month, those found responsible for the incident were identified and punished," he added.

"We want permanent peace in the state and want Jammu and Kashmir to prosper...," Jaitley said.

He said Jammu and Kashmir, and especially the valley, has tremendous power to prosper as God has gifted this place to be called the paradise on Earth.

"This power needs to be harnessed for all sorts of tourism, including leisure, adventure and religious tourism," Jaitley said.

He said the local craftsmen were very gifted were one of the most gifted in the world.

The minister also referred to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement a country's neighbour cannot be changed, but relations between nations can be improved.

He hailed the people for turning up in large numbers to vote in the assembly polls.

He said while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is discussing and debating what should be the contours of legal and constitution relationship between the and the centre, the outcome of such a debate would not come in the way of centre's support and assistance to Jammu and Kashmir.

IANS