Mehbooba Mufti for Kartarpur-like initiatives to resolve J&K

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that instead of bloodshed and attempts to enforce silence of graveyard, Kashmir issue can be resolved through Kartar-pur corridor like initiatives.

She said in a statement that the decision taken by Pakistan on the axis is appreciable and same was reciprocated with grace and statesmanship by the leadership of India. “Bo-ld, honest and humanitarian initiatives are needed to resolve Jammu and Kashmir problem. It is worthwhile to witness that Kartarpur corridor was opened on a day when so many human lives were taken by terrorism in Mumbai in  2009 (2008). If we continue with this response, there is no reason why Jammu and Kashmir problem sh-ould not be settled,” (sic) she said.

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab chief minister on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

She said that by taking the decision of opening the Kartarpur corridor, country’s leadership has exhibited statesmanship that too when electoral exercise is on. She said that it appears that voters are unmindful of this an-d, in fact, this could become a model for the future. “It has given us an idea that electoral considerations cannot any longer hold back the governments from taking decisions that are aimed to improve the ties between two countries,” she said.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The decision to build the passage — from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border — was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

The former Chief Minister also pitched for the opening of Sharda Peth, ancient seat of learning of Kashmiri Pandits near Muzaffarabad in PoK, for the Hindu devotees and pilgrims from this side of the Line of Control (LoC). She said that the opening of Uri-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes along the de facto border for the people and trade were a big achievement.

Condemning the recent killings in the Valley, she said as the wounds inflicted by past violence were still fresh, nine more people were killed this week. She urged the youth of Kashmir to shun the path of violence and said that there were solutions available within the democratic and diplomatic space.  She said the each killing whether of militants, civilians or security forces counts for a tragedy at an individual level. She urged the authorities to adopt humanitarian approach in resolving the crises which loom large over the State. “Trigger happy approach will not solve the Jammu and Kashmir problem. Confidence building measures, dialogue and reconciliation are the only ways that could protect the state from an apocalypse,” the statement read.

Meanwhile National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah has accused the government in New Delhi of handling of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in an ad-hoc and experimental manner which, he said, has pushed the State several years back.