Mirwaiz for resumption of Indo-Pak talks

Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 5

Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday called for the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. “Confidence-building measures can be a starting point for the resolution of all issues amicably,” he stated.

Delivering the Eid sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city’s Nowhatta area here, Mirwaiz said, “Such measures could be a starting point which will pave the way for resolution of all issues amicably, including long-standing Kashmir issue, which is lingering for the past 70 years”.

Mirwaiz reiterated the stand of Kashmiri leadership to help bridge the divide between India and Pakistan, which was “imperative for the resolution of Kashmir issues and to devise a mechanism for dialogue and deliberations”.

“The Kashmir issue needs a peaceful and political solution. We are ready to extend a helping hand and support a peaceful dialogue between the two countries,” he maintained.

Demanding the opening of the traditional routes to facilitate travel and trade and the contact between families and friends of divided parts of Kashmir, Mirwaiz said: “All natural routes of divided Jammu and Kashmir should be reopened so that people are allowed to connect to their loved ones”.

He hoped that New Delhi’s new ruling dispensation would take positive steps for the resolution of the basic political problem in the state and would work for its redressal to end uncertainty once and for all.

Meanwhile, Eid-ul-Fitr, like other parts of the country, was celebrated with religious gaiety and fervour across Kashmir.

The largest gathering of men and women to offer Eid prayers was witnessed at the historical Jamia Masjid, Srinagar. Special arrangement was made by Auqaf Anjuman Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, to facilitate devotees who came from different parts of the Valley to offer prayers on the occasion.

BSF, Rangers exchange sweets on LoC

Jammu/ Rajouri: The Army and Border Security Force (BSF) exchanged Eid greetings and sweets with their Pakistani counterparts at different locations along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The BSF and Pakistan Rangers greeted each other and exchanged sweets on the International Border of Jammu in Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh, RS Pura and Pragwal sectors. “The border forces are committed to maintaining peaceful atmosphere and harmonious relations,” a BSF spokesperson said. In Poonch, the Indian and Pakistan armies exchanged sweets at Chakan Da Bagh on the LoC. The gate was opened for about 5 minutes at 11.30 am. A six-member Indian side was led by Major Vignesh while Pakistan army’s team was led by Capt Idrees. Last time, the sweets were exchanged in August and November last year on the occasions of Eid-al-Azha and Diwali festivals, respectively. “No sweets were exchanged on the occasion of India’s Republic Day on January 26 as the Pakistan army had resorted to heavy firing with small arms and shelling by mortars from January 24 and 27,” said sources. OC