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| Jammu, Kashmiri leadership & Zardari's Delhi visit | | Autonomists And Integrationists - I | | NEHA
JAMMU, Apr 8: Jammu on Saturday or on the eve of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's New Delhi visit witnessed two contradictory developments. One was the positive response of the ruling NC to the Zardari's scheduled visit and the other was the seminar on "Invasion and Accession", organized by the integrationists and victims of terrorism, communal politics and Pakistan at Press Club of Jammu.
While NC president and Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah expressed the hope that the visit of Zardari "will bring India and Pakistan closer, his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah underlined the need for sustained India-Pakistan dialogue. "Let us hope that the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Zardari be fruitful. He hopes that both the leaders would succeed in breaking the ice and bring India-Pakistan together," said Farooq Abdullah at a press conference here in Jammu. Interestingly, Farooq Abdullah also said that Prime Minister "Manmohan Singh will not mince words and clearly convey India's concern on terrorism and the need to book the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks when he meets Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in Delhi".
As for Omar Abdullah, he said on the sidelines of World Health Day function at Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu: We want a continuous dialogue process between the two neighbours to address the problems and find out solutions. We would also like that Jammu and Kashmir-centric CBMs like cross LoC bus service and trade matters be discussed apart from other ongoing issues. We would like that the rehabilitation policy for return of youth from PoK also come up for talks so that benefits trickle to the state. We are in favour of sustained dialogue in an amicable atmosphere to address all bigger and smaller issues". He, in addition, told media persons that he would on April 10 discuss with Union Home Minister issues relating to "security scenario, AFSPA, interlocutors' report, reduction of forces" and so on. The Union Home Minister is visiting Jammu on April 10.
Though the father-son duo did underline the need for a dialogue between India and Pakistan, it was the latter who used the opportunity to express his views on confidence building measures, rehabilitation of militants, cross LoC trade, communication network between this and that side of Jammu and Kashmir, AFSPA, reduction of troops, solution to bigger (read Kashmir) and smaller issues" and so on.
NC ideologue and Finance and Ladakh Affairs Minister Abdul Rahim Rather also spoke on trade and travel links between India and Pakistan saying these would be "major" confidence building measures. In fact, he urged the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan to "broad-base the trade by removing all impediments to make it a hassle-free and mutually beneficial economic activity. "Not only cross LoC trade but cross-border travel restrictions also needed to be relaxed to remix divided families of the 1947 partition," he, among other things, said while speaking at a function held to release a survey report on cross LoC trade based on the so-called "opinion poll and experiences of traders engaged with the trade".
It was clear from what the three top-ranking NC leaders said that they were for a regime that not only takes on board Pakistan but also helps the people of Kashmir expand their trading activities. However, it's true that Farooq Abdullah was somewhat cautious while reflecting on the Pakistani President's visit to New Delhi. As for as Rather was concerned, he not only talked about cross LoC trade but also vouched for a mechanism that makes the LoC and international border between India and Pakistan irrelevant. The meaning of what Omar Abdullah and Rather was very clear. They suggested certain things, of course not so candidly, no well-wisher and friend of India would ever appreciate considering the credentials of Pakistan and its agents operating at different levels at different places. (To be continued) |
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