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| Indo-Pak border residents 'optimistic' about bilateral talks | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Gurez, July 26: With the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan holding consultations in New Delhi to finalise the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting between their foreign ministers, border area residents in the Kashmir Valley expressed hope about the dialogue yielding positive results.
In Gurez, a cluster of villages situated on the Indian side of the border with Pakistan, residents said they had high hopes from the upcoming talks.
"We are very optimistic that talks are taking place between India and Pakistan. We are sure that the dialogue between the two countries would benefit us. We hope to get an opportunity to meet our relatives on the other side of the border," said Aijaz Ahmad, a local.
"Communication between the two nations would also increase. I feel that peace can only be achieved through talks, so this bilateral initiative is a very positive thing," he added.
One of the long-standing demands here has been the opening of a road between Gurez and Gilgit region, similar to the route between the Srinagar and Pakistan's Muzzaffabad town, to boost local trade and business.
Some residents asserted that they wanted the ''ceasefire'' between India and Pakistan in the region to be maintained in order to promote developmental activities.
"See, a ceasefire was announced in this region a few years ago, due to which there is peace and development here in Gurez. It is due to the ceasefire that Gurez is progressing, day-by-day. We want this ceasefire to be maintained between the two counties," said Ghulam Ahmad.
"Bilateral dialogue must be held in a good manner to ensure that there is no war between the two nations in the future. Ceasefire must be maintained, because whenever shelling takes place, lots of innocent lives are lost in this backward area," he added.
Meanwhile, many locals maintained that peace was essential to usher in an era of harmony, development and progress.
"Peace is the most important aspect. Only a peaceful nation can develop and progress steadily. If there is peace in Gurez, even this area will see progress. This is the most important thing," said Bashir Ahmad, a local.
Building on the official-level talks, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and newly-appointed Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will meet in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss all aspects of the bilateral relations, particularly focusing on issues like terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, trade and promotion of bilateral exchanges.
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