Chidambarams statement reflects positive change: PDP
Srinagar | Thursday, Oct 15 2009 IST
 

Welcoming Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on the Kashmir issue, People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today described the development as a breath of fresh air into a scenario that has been marred by negative rhetoric for a long time. In a statement issued here, Ms Mufti said the commitment of the Union government to work for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue adds a new and positive dimension to Kashmir discourse. She said the Home Minister's description of Jammu and Kashmir as a place with unique history and geography that would need a unique solution is in line with the thinking and efforts of the PDP.

Ms Mufti said Mr Chidambaram could not be more accurate in outlining the contours of the problem and its possible solution when he said Jammu and Kashmir would need its own solution in view of the peculiar background of its problems and that no other arrangement could serve a model for the state. She said the self-rule vision presented by the PDP takes these factors into consideration and provides a solution to the external and internal problems of Jammu and Kashmir aiming at the virtual unification of the pre-partition state, without impinging on the territorial integrity and sovereignty either of India and Pakistan.

Ms Mufti said the PDP has always held that though economic progress and development were important to the people of the state as much as to any other place, it would remain an unachievable goal unless the core political issue was addressed and resolved.

Expressing the hope that the dialogue process that the Home Minister promised should take off without delay, she said it was also necessary that Pakistan was engaged simultaneously at the political and diplomatic levels. She said all the political shades of opinion in the state need to be taken on board to reach a lasting solution which would also be acceptable to people and states of India and Pakistan.

Referring to the Home Minister's comments on withdrawal of forces, Ms Mufti said that needs to be done now in view of the vastly improved security scenario as endorsed by Mr Chidambaram himself. She said that would work as an effective confidence building measure along with revocation of AFSPA. She said these measures could not be delayed without diluting the credibility of the efforts of the government of India to reach a fair and acceptable solution.

-- (UNI) -- 15DR35.xml

 

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