There has been mixed reaction in Jammu and Kashmir to the breaking of diplomatic deadlock between India and Pakistan.
While separatists have cautiously welcomed Sunday’s meeting between the national security advisers of the two countries held away from the public gaze in Bangkok, chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed termed it a positive development which, he said, will set the tone for reconciliation between the two South Asian neighbours.
Mr Sayeed told reporters in Jammu that there is urgency of reducing the trust deficit between India and Pakistan and said he favoured sustained and meaningful dialogue between them.
“It is a good beginning. I am happy that bilateral talks between NSAs of India and Pakistan were held quietly,” he said.
The chief minister exuded confidence that the fresh round of talks will help in preparing ground for engaging the two sides at a higher level, which he said will help in carrying forward peace and reconciliatory moves to embed political stability in the region, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
Separatist leader, Mr Geelani, said though nobody can be averse to the dialogue process between the two countries, it will be wise on their part to first look into the causes of the failures of such engagements in the past.
“A sincere and serious effort must be made towards addressing the causes behind the failure in creating trust and confidence in each other and establishing a pleasant relationship between the two nations,” he said in a statement here.
Welcoming the NSA-level talks and forthcoming visit of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan, Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said it was a “good beginning”.
