Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday called for people-centric Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) in Jammu and Kashmir as both India and Pakistan are moving back from the brink, saying the people in the region are looking for a breather from years of conflict, and uncertainty.
This was stated, according to the NC spokesperson, by Party’s Additional General Secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamal while addressing party functionaries at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan in Jammu. “Addressing the gathering, he said the cessation of violence between India and Pakistan is a welcome step. He said the resumption of trade, IWT parleys, DGMO level truce and other veiled diplomatic outreach between India and Pakistan are welcome steps that the party leadership has welcomed at every level. He further said there seems to have an easing of tensions between the two neighboring countries that had come to an edge. He hoped that the bonhomie doesn’t go down as short-lived flutter but become a perpetual feature in India and Pakistan relations,” the spokesperson said.
“I hope the renewed engagement is not marked by the seven decades-old pattern. It is good to see both countries realize the inevitability of dialogue to solve all pending issues between them. Our party has been pointing out to both the countries how severely the absence of dialogue between them was costing them. Now when both of them have realized that the only recourse to peace is dialogue, we welcome it whole heartedly hoping that both the countries will come forward with a workable strategy to come up with some tangible CBMs on Jammu and Kashmir, which has been on an edge and in need of a breather. The increased bonhomie between the two neighboring nations, if it fails to reprieve the people of Jammu and Kashmir of decades-old uncertainty, pandemonium, is futile,” the spokesperson quoted Dr. Kamal as saying.
“He also stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir especially Kashmiris have been a victim of political instability, uncertainty, and violence for decades and that only a genuine political outreach from New Delhi can embalm their wounds. He started that an inclusive, institutionalized and sincere outreach of GOI to the people of J&K will have a positive impact on the region, saying that the people are feeling vulnerable and skeptical about the moves of GOI. The skepticism about the sincerity of New Delhi, he said has remained unchanged and has rather increased on account of the August 5, 2019 measures,” the spokesperson said.
