Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s mainstream and separatist parties and leaders on Friday responded in somewhat unison to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s, sudden and unexpected visit to Lahore as a sign of warming of relations between the two countries.
“Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan a positive move. People of Kashmir welcome any opportunity that brings India and Pakistan close,” tweeted chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He also said, “Political will and vision needed on all sides to address issues especially Kashmir”.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani who heads the other major faction of the amalgam said he is not averse to improving of relations between the two South Asian neighbours but sought to remind their leaderships of Kashmir being the core issue and its resolution key to success of the two-way dialogue for establishing lasting peace in the region.
“I’m not against their improving relations but just want to remind them that the basic issue between the two sides is the unresolved Kashmir dispute and unless and until this issue is addressed as core issue and the dispute is solved according to the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, such engagements will only prove a futile exercise”, he said. The octogenarian leader asked, “Do I have also to recall that more than 150 rounds of talks were held between the two sides in the past but without achieving any tangible results.”
Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, while welcoming Mr. Modi’s brief visit to Lahore said it was a step in right direction which also indicates the Prime Minister’s resolve to improve ties with Pakistan. He added that he was delighted by Mr. Modi’s stopover at Lahore as it will further strengthen the bonds of friendship and usher in an era of peace and stability in the region. “This is an evolutionary process and step in the right direction. It indicates Prime Minister’s resolve to enter into a long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Sayeed hoped that the meeting between the two leaders will provide the much-needed momentum to the ‘Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue’ for peaceful resolution of all issues between the two countries. “This initiative, besides being a great step towards improvement of bilateral relations, will also give impetus to the concept of SAARC,” he asserted.
Former Chief Minister and president of Opposition National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah, also welcomed the Prime Minister’s Lahore visit though cautiously saying “The re-engagement with Pakistan is a good step and a very welcome development. However more than grand gestures we need consistency.” He turned to social networking site Twitter.com to also say “Indo-Pak relations have been plagued by knee-jerk reactions and a lack of consistency. Looking towards two PMs to correct this this time”.
Responding to Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweet ‘Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi. Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues’, Mr. Abdullah said “Mature & reasonable reaction from opposition in Pakistan to @PMOIndia visit to Lahore. Good to see”.
Peoples’ Conference faction leader Sajad Gani Lone who is also a minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government tweeted, “Superb act of statesmanship. PM's unscheduled visit to Pakistan. That is what you call out of box thinking”.
