news details |
|
|
| Havana meet generates hope; Farooq, Omar, Mahbooba, Shah optimistic | | |
Jammu, Sep 14 : Be it common man, mainstream political parties or separatists leaders the Friday meet between Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Gen. Parvez Musharaff has generated optimism in this trouble torn state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Heads of two countries would hold talks tomorrow on the margins of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana, where the two South Asian leaders would be leading their delegations
The meeting has assumed significance especially keeping in view the recent hiccups in the ongoing peace process. This will be the first top political-level contact between the two countries since the July 11 Mumbai blasts which put Pakistan-India relations in high strain and resulted in the postponement of foreign secretaries level talks by India.
The Musharraf-Singh meeting is seen as crucial at this juncture, as the fate of the stalled peace dialogue hinges on it. Amid cautious optimism about the outcome of the talks, there are predictions of some forward movement.
Former chief minister and chief patron National Conference Farooq Abdullah hopes that something positive would come out of the meet. “I do not know what will be the outcome of the meeting but yes the determination and sincerity of these two leaders towards the ongoing peace process has generated hope among the general masses of the state”, Dr Abdullah told News Agency of Kashmir.
“Allah Bahtar Janta Hai Ki Kal Kya Hoga Lakin Main Dua Karta Hoon Ki Ye Mulaqat Dosti Ko Aur Mazboot Karnai Main Sabit Ho”, he added.
His son and party president Omar Abdullah sound more optimistic towards the outcome of the meeting. Says Omar, “I think the meeting of the two leaders was need of the hour especially at the time when people feared that the peace process between the two countries may get affected after the recent Mumbai blast and killings in Balochistan area of Pakistan”.
Saying that the solution of Kashmir issue can not be resolved in one meeting, Omar hoped that it would further strengthen the bounds between the two countries.
When contacted President Peoples Democratic Party and Member Parliament Mahbooba Mufti told News Agency of Kashmir that the meeting is also important as it would be the first high-level contact after the tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats by the two countries on August 5 that again cast a dark shadow on bilateral ties with Delhi warning that the incident could undermine relations with Pakistan.
“We have been saying that two countries should not allow peace process to get derailed at any cost”, she said adding, “The people of the state, who have suffered badly, have high hopes with the two leaders”.
“Haimain Umeed Hai Ki Ye Mulaqat Logon Ko Badook Kai Saye Say Najat Delani Main Kafi Had Tak Madatgar Sabit Hogi”, added Mahbooba.
Separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah said that though the meeting of the two heads was a positive signals both the countries should do something more to strengthen peace process. “If they are really serious about the resolution of Kashmir issue the people of the state should be involved in the peace process”, he added. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
