PM Narendra Modi's Pakistan visit will lead to other steps: Jitendra Singh

JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan is a "positive step" which would lead to more such steps, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said today while noting that peace parleys between the two countries would benefit Jammu and Kashmir the most.

"This (PM's Pakistan visit) is a positive step which will lead to other and subsequently other leads will follow. A meeting ground has been formed to discuss other issues," Singh, who hails from Jammu, told reporters here.

He said Jammu and Kashmir which has borne the brunt of terrorism would be the biggest beneficiary of the peace parleys between India and Pakistan.

"There is no second opinion about the fact that in the second half or quarter of the century, Jammu Kashmir is the greatest sufferer as far as terrorism is concerned and therefore any process which seeks to restore peace in the subcontinent and the region, will certainly have the most important benefit for Jammu and Kashmir," said the MP from the state. He said the entire world was surprised over the Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan also also welcomed his move aimed at mending relationship between the two nations.

"The entire world was surprised and the Pakistan media also. The most interesting fact was that when Prime Minister got out of the aircraft and the Pakistan media was running forward to cover him he along with Nawaz Sahab immediately boarded the helicopter and Pakistan media was not aware of anything," the Minister said.

"This is something which has been welcomed by and large by everybody", he said. To criticism by Opposition parties, Singh said, "Except for those few who are not inclined to give Prime Minister the credit, everybody else has welcomed it. But some of the opposition leaders who are not comfortable with it are the ones who would criticize us anyway."