India, Pakistan have shown great maturity to re-engage: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

SRINAGAR: Lauding the resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has called for a long-term strategic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.

Sayeed welcomed the breakthrough on holding of comprehensive bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan and hoped both the countries will clear the decks for carrying forward the process of reconciliation.

"The resumption of dialogue is a gigantic step forward... There is a paradigm shift in New Delhi's policy towards Islamabad.

"Now that both the countries have shown great maturity to re-engage, it has generated hope and expectation among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have for long yearned for peace and stability in the region," Sayeed said addressing a meeting of his PDP here last evening.

The Chief Minister reiterated his slogan "Na Bandook Se Na Goli Se, Baat Banegi Boli Se (Not guns and bullets but dialogue will resolve issues).

He said people of Jammu and Kashmir are direct beneficiaries of friendly and peaceful relations between the two neighbours.

"I have always maintained that dialogue is an evolutionary process in which results are not achieved in a single day," he added.

The Chief Minister also announced framing of a Political Affairs' Committee within his PDP to give a new direction to the agenda of the party, in tune with the aspirations and wishes of the people.

Our responsibility is to sustain the trust and confidence that people continue to repose in us, he said.

Member Parliament and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, co-chaired the nearly four-hour-long brainstorming session, which was called to obtain firsthand feedback on the functioning of the PDP-BJP government in the state.

Sayeed said he had called the meeting to deliberate and discuss face to face with party leaders various issues and to devise a strategy to strengthen the party.

He said it was important to obtain feedback to make a reality check vis-a-vis performance of the government.

Referring to the state's special status guaranteed under the Constitution of India, Sayeed said even the agenda of the alliance recognizes this special position of the state.