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| Mufti welcomes Pakistan's willingness on cross-LoC trade | | 'Time has come to dismantle region's political barriers' | |
Srinagar, Aug 3 – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has welcomed the Pakistan Government's willingness to allow cross-LoC trade between two parts of Jammu & Kashmir as proposed by the Government of India. "The decision signifies that not only fundamental but irreversible positive changes are consolidating in the sub-continent," he said.
In a statement issued here today, Sayeed said as has been conveyed by Pakistan Commerce Secretary, Syed Asif Shah to the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh yesterday, Islamabad has agreed to duty-free cross-LoC trade, starting with limited number of goods. "I hope truck-loads of apple would start rolling on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road this year," he said and added that both the Governments (New Delhi & Islamabad) must now concentrate on creating the requisite infrastructure facilities on the Jhelum Valley road for the movement of goods.
Reiterating his demand for allowing free movement of people and commodities across the dividing line in Jammu & Kashmir, Sayeed said India and Pakistan should, at the same time, explore the possibilities of opening up the Suchetgarh-Sialkote and Kargil-Skardu roads trade and transport. "The people of Jammu & Kashmir want it," he said and added that the two countries must facilitate economic cooperation between two parts of the State in the larger interest of the region's prosperity. He also called for facilitating the much-awaited cross-LoC visits of the members of the Chambers of Commerce to explore fresh trade avenues on both sides.
Strongly advocating dismantling of the political barriers, Sayeed said the obtrusive mindset has only deprived the region of the vast potential of economic activities that could have transformed the lives of its people. "The good thing is that slowly but steadily the glacial and paranoiac mindsets fast changing to facilitate enhanced economic cooperation in the region," he said and added that cooperation on economic, social and cultural fronts is the only way to bring the people of the subcontinent together to end the political uncertainties that have marred the region's growth.
Sayeed said opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for free movement of people and goods would become a stepping-stone towards forging of a new economic alliance in the region. He said it would not be outrageous to suggest that the revival of all the traditional routes passing through Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will not only forge a new regional economic alliance, but also anchor a final solution to the Kashmir issue in a stable framework of economic cooperation. "If we accept this pragmatic approach, a long haul of peace, progress and prosperity stretches out before the people of South Asia," he said
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