Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday suggested that the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan could become a “line of peace” and the land and water resources of divided Kashmir could be used by Kashmiri people in both countries — after terrorism and violence ended.
He was speaking at Jammu University where he was presented an honorary doctorate of letters (D. Litt). Manmohan Singh said: “Jammu and Kashmir can one day become a symbol of India-Pakistan cooperation rather than of conflict... borders cannot be changed, but they can be made irrelevant...the LoC can become a line of peace with a freer flow of ideas, goods, services and people. The natural resources of the state could then be used for the benefit of the people. They need no longer be points of contention or a source of conflict”, he said.
He added that there were “vast opportunities to jointly work together for the mutual benefit” of the people of both countries. All this would be possible only after terrorism and violence ended permanently”.
Reiterating his personal commitment to bettering the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said the round table conferences his government was holding with political parties there had emerged as an “effective platform for addressing all the concerns of the people in the region”.
The Centre has convened three round table meetings to discuss a solution to the problems of Kashmir.
Manmohan Singh stated that the aspirations of all sections of people in each of these regions must be taken into consideration.

Kashmiri pandits demand quota
Jammu, PTI: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday demanded reservation in Jammu and Kashmir legislature and government jobs for the community, besides installation of three townships in Kashmiri valley with a self-governing arrangement, for their rehabilitation.
In order to restore political rights to Kashmiri Pandits in the state, the All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) — a conglomerate of 16 organisations, in its two page memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, demanded the reservation of three Assembly seats in the state legislature.