Mehbooba Mufti upset over Kashmir issue not given prominence in Indo-Pak talks

Srinagar, Sep 10 (ANI): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has expressed her disappointment over Kashmir issue being 'left out' in the talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in Islamabad.

"The meeting of the external affairs ministers of our country and Pakistan is a historical event in itself. The issues and the confidence building measures that have been decided, we believe, will benefit not only India and Pakistan, but also the entire subcontinent. But unfortunately I don't know for whatever reason Jammu and Kashmir has been edged out of it," Mufti told media here.

"Jammu and Kashmir has been left out of it. We believe that when the political process was started and initiated in 2003, Jammu and Kashmir was becoming a bridge between India and Pakistan," said Mufti.

Mufti further said that since Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the most due to what she called 'the enmity between the two countries', it should have been the first beneficiary of the peace process.

"Jammu and Kashmir should have been the first beneficiary of that reconciliation. The losses sustained by Jammu and Kashmir due to the enmity between India and Pakistan, and today friendship is being initiated, the state of Jammu and Kashmir should have benefited the most from it, which we cannot see. If anybody or tourists can come through the Wagah border, if travels can be open, if trades can be open, beyond divided families can go, then why not through Rawlakot and Muzaffarabad road?" she said.

Mufti said that Kashmir should have been given due importance in talks because it can act as a bridge between the two countries in improving their relations.

"I would like to appeal to both the governments that all the reconciliatory process that has taken place between the two countries is a welcome step. But I would request them not to keep Jammu and Kashmir out of it because Jammu and Kashmir is the bridge that is really going to really cement the relationship between the two countries," she said.

Mehbooba Mufti said saying her party would use all democratic means to press for implementation of her demands.

As part of his state visit to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna met his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar on Saturday and took strategic decisions to improve the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Pakistan and India agreed to ease tough visa restrictions, an important step forward in improving relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours. (ANI)