| PDP 'aide' visits PoK, lobbies with prominent faces | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 23: Even as there's no end to aggression from the neighboring country on the Indian soil, a former Kashmiri bureaucrat, who is a "close aide" of the ruling PDP, is on a visit to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other areas in Pakistan for "hectic lobbying."
Sources said the former official, who is close to a particular minister from PDP, had gone on a formal trip to Pakistan, but that his interactions there have been under scanner.
Sources said this man had gone as a "cultural envoy" but lobbied like a "PDP man" with some prominent faces there. Sources said some quarters are trying to ascertain if he held any interactions with the militant groups there.
Sources said the former official was in constant contact with the PDP minister who is close to him.
Two years ago, the PDP minister in question had been desirous of visiting Pakistan but he was denied visa by the Pakistan High Commission.
Rumor mills are rife that the minister used the presence of his close aide to improve ties so that PDP leaders get Pakistan visa in future.
"One thing which is getting clear is that he had lobbying there and met a cross section of people," said a source.
Sources said the former official had gone on cultural tour but was more busy discussing the "political scenario" in Kashmir.
The visit comes at a time when the PDP-led government is stressing for talks between India and Pakistan.
"The visit to PoK cannot be seen in isolation, when it's a known fact that the person in question is a PDP aide and this party has upped demand for dialogue," said an observer.
Source said the "PDP envoy" was lobbying to invite a group of "like-minded people from PoK to Kashmir."
"Something is cooking and we are trying to ascertain as to what is being cooked and why," said a senior functionary in the government |
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