Make intentions clear on Kashmir talks, PDP to Centre

Welcoming the new initiative to resolve Kashmir through dialogue, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed today said the Centre had to provide a better account of its intentions and instruments to make the process worthwhile.

It appeared that different people at responsible positions were speaking different languages, he said, addressing a public meeting in the frontier district of Kupwara. He said the recent statements from Armed forces were at variance with the idiom and import of what the political leadership, prime minister downwards, had conveyed to the people of the state.

Misleading interpretations and far-fetched apprehensions, Mr Sayeed said, can in no way dilute the urgency of demilitarisation of civilian areas and revocation of AFSPA if a new chapter of trust has to be opened in the relationship between the state and the union.

Mr Sayeed also said India was a vibrant democracy but its credibility was at stake in Kashmir. Unless the Kashmir issue was resolved to the satisfaction of its people and the festering sore over it healed, the great Indian democratic project would remain incomplete and lack substance, he said and underlined the need for reopening dialogue with Pakistan as well.

Mr Sayeed said the government had been unable to gauge the real extent of unemployment in the state.

-- (UNI) -- 05DR40.xml

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