Despite hostile relations with Pak, Mehbooba for opening more routes along LoC

At a time when Indo-Pak relations are at its lowest ebb, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Friday stressed on the need for opening more routes along the Line of Control (LoC) in the State to facilitate people’s movement.

Interacting with a visiting delegation from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) capital Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas which called on her here, Mehbooba said dialogue, reconciliation and economic development in the whole region would bring an end to violence, acrimony and most of all miseries of people in the State.

“The opening of all historic routes across LoC can get the State to the threshold of prosperity and economic affluence besides sending the message of peace, coexistence and amity between India and Pakistan,” she said.

The cross LoC Uri-Muzaffarabad trade route was closed on July 21 after police confiscated consignment of heroin worth Rs 300 crore from a truck coming from PoK. The police have arrested a driver from PoK and a local trader in the incident.

The Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that violence and acrimony have taken over the discourse between India and Pakistan due to which act on these positive ideas has slowed down. She stressed on frequent cultural exchanges between youth, institutions, groups and communities on the two sides of LoC adding that cultural exchanges have proved instrumental in bringing people and societies closer.

Mehbooba, whose PDP runs an alliance government with the right wing BJP in the state, said she would like the new generation to take a lead in this. “If we open up educational institutes for each other’s students where they can benefit from the facilities and advancements made so far, it would help a great deal”, she said. Besides, she flagged areas like tourism, disaster management, agriculture, climate change etc where expertise and difficulties can be exchanged to achieve better results.

Mehbooba informed the visiting delegation that Shardha Peeth, on the other side of LoC, is not only a sacred place for Kashmiri Pandits but represents collective ethos and pluralistic society of the State. She favoured visits to the place by members of Kashmiri Pandit community, thereby opening a new chapter of pilgrimage tourism among the two people across the LoC.

The delegation shared with the Chief Minister their observations about the opening of routes across LoC and the consequent facilitation it has brought to travellers, particular members of divided families living on the two sides of the divide.