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| Asia Society hosts PDP leaders for interaction | | Reconciliation only way to resolve conflicts: Sayeed | | NEW YORK, 19 SEPTEMBER – The Asia Society held an interactive session with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the party President, Mehbooba Mufti here today. The participants included a galaxy of eminent American and Indian personalities from academics, media, corporate sector, students and legal luminaries.
The PDP leaders discussed with the participants in detail the political, security, economic and social aspects of the prevailing situation in Jammu & Kashmir and the future scenario.
Sayeed told the gathering that South Asia is today going through a critical stage of reconciliation of the past misgivings to have a better, peaceful and prosperous world for its future generations. He said a strong realization is dawning in the region that hostility and violence is no way out and we will have to find other ways to resolve the conflicts in the area.
Sayeed emphasized that for completely ending the climate of violence in the region, suspicion has to give way to the trust and sincere dialogue must go on to resolve the problems. "The happenings in Iraq and Afghanistan have made it amply clear that use of mindless power is no solution to the problems as it only brings miseries to the people," he said and added that it is always better to walk the path of dialogue and reconciliation rather than war.
Sayeed said his party's strong belief is that if the Kashmir issue is settled amicably between India and Pakistan – and what they are trying to do – it will have a cascading effect on more regions of conflict. "No single event in the history will have more positive and revitalizing effect on the people of the region that the peaceful resolution of this conflict," he said.
The PDP Patron said his party has tried to inject new ideas on Kashmir that reflect the grass root perspective. He said the first and foremost dimension of the Kashmir issue is the human aspect, secondly the governance and development and finally the geo-political dimension linked to the final settlement of the issue. "Let's face it, the fresh ideas on Kashmir can only really emerge from the experiences of the people," he said and added that any idea would, however, be successful only if it is rooted in the ground realities, even while they seek to project a new vision for the State and its people. "It is unfortunate that most people forget that ultimately the biggest sufferers are the people of Jammu & Kashmir," he said and added that men, women and children irrespective of age status or political affiliations have been traumatized by the turmoil.
"Something has to be done to help the people to come out of the continued bloodshed with honor and dignity," Sayeed said and added that a substantial effort has to be made t reach-out to the victims of the violence irrespective of their affiliation if any. He said PDP's philosophy is to build people's stakes in peace by involving them both politically as well as in the economic development. "This approach has helped us to expand the constituency of peace and those having vested interest in violence are getting isolated," he said.
Sayeed pointed out that the emerging refreshing scenario offers a momentous opportunity for resolving the issue accommodating the aspirations of, not only the three regions f the State, but also of the people living across the LoC. "To have a workable solution, every region should get equal share and political importance and opportunities in the decision-making," he said and added that to achieve that objective, both the countries – India and Pakistan - will have to move beyond symbolism. "It is only then that the bold initiatives taken by the leadership of the two countries with regard to dialogue and peace process, will bear fruit," he said.
Sayeed said Jammu and Kashmir is on the path of peace and reconciliation and initiatives and ideas of the people, both within and outside the State would lay the strong foundations for regaining its glory.
Vishakha Desai, President Asia Society, Nafis Sadiq, Special Advisor to the United National Secretary General, David Denoon, Professor f Politics ad Economics at the New York University, Madhu Kishwar, Columnist and Harish Raghvan, Head INS Cap Management were among the prominent participants present at the interaction.
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