Sonia feels "much less tension" in Valley's air now
After Badamwari, Tulip Garden thrown
open to trumpet a new spring

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Mar 29: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's speech was pregnant with symbolism, metaphor and nostalgia when she dedicated Asia's largest tulip garden to the nation and said that Indira Gandhi's family as well as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had a strong obsession for Kashmir's treasure trove of flowers. She noticed "much less tension in air now" and asserted that the situation in Kashmir would continue to improve.

Accompanied by Azad and his wife Shameem Azad, besides former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Defence Minister A K Antony and Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz, Sonia Gandhi dedicated to the nation a spacious tulip garden, earlier known as Siraj Bagh and now rechristened as Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden behind the famous Cheshma Shahi and Nehru Botanical Garden. Laid in the picturesque Zabarvan foothills, this habitat of 60 different varieties and colours of tulip is being trumpeted as a potential tourist puller after the rehabilitated Badamwari in the lofty Haariparbat foothills.

Azad, who has conceived and conceptualised "Asia's largest tulip garden", declared that he had visited its site of development as many as 100 times in the last two-and-a-half years. While 12 Lakh bulbs have been planted on an area of 100 Kanals, Azad said that the number would cross 20 Lakh next year. Over 500 Kanals of land are being speedily developed into a unique garden which would have all-season flowers of different species in the next one or two years. Azad said that as against Shalimar (1950x840 ft) and Nishat (1800x1200 ft), the tulip garden (2700x1400 ft) would be the largest in Kashmir.

Political symbolism was out of bloom when Sonia said that there was "much less tension in air now" and promised that the situation would further improve in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir. She said "we should redouble our efforts to usher in complete peace" even as the situation in Kashmir had already improved. She said that late Indira Gandhi, as well as both of her sons, Sanjay and Rajiv, had a strong obsession for Kashmir's beautiful trees, landscape and flowers. "My family used to frequently visit this breathtaking land to release tension of politics and governance", Sonia said and narrated how her mother-in-law and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had made a last visit of her life only to see the rusty golden leaves of Chinar in the autumn of 1984. She went nostalgic to reveal how she would herself visit the Valley frequently with her children to refresh with a sight of Kashmir's flora.

Sonia said that there was lyrical description of the Valley's beauty in the correspondence between Indira Gandhi and her father Jawahar Lal Nehru who used to enjoy the full blossom cherry, the graceful willows, the stately popular and the massive Chinar. She said, rather proudly, that the tulip had grown in Kashmir nearly 1,000 years before it reached Europe. According to her, it became so popular in Europe, particularly in Holland (the Netherlands) that a single bulb of the flower would sell at the price of a house. "Species of tulip are grown in Holland and Canada. Kashmir is the only place in the world where local species of tulip are grown indigenously and the same need to be grown in abundance", Sonia said with reference to the Valley's typical Gul-e-Lala or Gulal.

Having thrown the garden open for tourists and inaugurated the first tulip festival, Sonia said that projects like this would create many jobs in tourism sector and boost the State's economy with an influx of tourists from all over the country and overseas.

In his welcome address, Azad said that he had visualised this garden two and a half years ago and developed it to advance the tourist season in Kashmir by one-and-half months. He said the Valley's tourist season normally started in May and there was not much for the tourists to enjoy here in March and April. By laying the tulip garden, tourists could now come and enjoy the bloom two months ahead of the beginning of the normal tourist season. He asked the tourism department officials to give good publicity to the Tulip Garden throughout the country to attract maximum number of tourists. Making a request to Mr Antony that he should arrange installation of some hoardings of the Tulip Garden in his tourist rich home State of Kerala, Azad said that lighting arrangements had been made to facilitate nightlong viewing of tulip bloom.

Azad made it clear that the entire Tulip Garden was being laid and developed by regular staff of the Department of Floriculture with engagement of local labour as no contractors had been involved with it.

While Sonia briefly interacted with a group of the MLAs, MLCs and Ministers of the coalition Government, Antony took a brief meeting on the latest security scenario with senior Defence authorities here before returning to New Delhi in the afternoon.

Gillani trumpets Pak's old stand on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29: In his first policy statement, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani today trumpeted Pakistan’s long-standing policy on Kashmir saying "sacrifices" of Kashmiri people will not go waste and their "aspirations" will be taken on board while resolving the vexed issue.

Gillani, who secured an unprecedented unanimous vote of confidence in the National Assembly, said eliminating terrorism would be his Government’s "first priority" but offered to hold dialogue with militants who give up arms.

"On this occasion, I want to assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that their sacrifices will not go waste," he said.

"We will take forward the process to settle the Kashmir issue but CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) will be effective only when the issue is perceived as being resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people," the 55-year-old Prime Minister said.

Gillani’s comments were in sharp contrast to ruling PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari’s recent remarks expressing readiness to set aside the Kashmir issue to focus on other aspects for improving relations with India.

Gillani, who heads a coalition of parties hostile to President Pervez Musharraf, said the Government is committed to reinstating the judges sacked during last year’s emergency, a move which might lead to a showdown with the former General.

"The Government will continue its efforts for reinstatement of judges and the independence of judiciary," he said.

In the brief section devoted to the new coalition Government’s Foreign Policy stance, he said: "we will work for peace and brotherhood with countries in our neighbourhood."

While Pakistan wants good relations with the US and Europe, the strengthening of the country’s close relations with the Islamic world will also be an important part of the foreign policy, Gillani said.

"We want peace in Afghanistan as we believe a strong and peaceful Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan."

Declaring that "the war on terrorism is our own war", Gillani told the National Assembly that terrorism and extremism are Pakistan’s "greatest problems" that have put the country in danger.

"Restoring peace and ending terrorism is our first priority. The war on terrorism is our own war because many of our people, including countless innocent children and youth, have been martyred in the country," Gillani said apparently alluding to us fears that the new Government may review cooperation in the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

The Premier said: "unfortunately, some people have adopted violence as the way of expressing their opinion. As a new era of democracy has begun in the country, I urge all those people to give up the path of violence and join us in the journey of democracy.

"We are ready to talk to all those people who give up their weapons and adopt the path of peace," Gillani, a close aide of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, said outlining the PPP-led coalition Government’s plans for first 100 days amid frequent thumping of desks by MPs.

Pakistan has been rocked by an unprecedented wave of bombings, including suicide attacks, since last year which are blamed on the local Taliban while President Pervez Musharraf had deployed military to check raging militancy in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Gillani acknowledged that Pakistan was passing through a difficult juncture and the country was facing numerous challenges. "But we will not fear these challenges and will tackle them under any circumstances," he said.(PTI)

Cadre shifted to upper reaches
Two cops' brother reveals HM's strategy for polls

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 29: The Hizbul Mujahideen cadre in Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban belt and Pir Panjal range has been asked by their mentors from across the border to lie low for two to three more months or till the election frenzy is generated in the State, according to two militants arrested by police today, one of whom was brother of two police constables.

The militants, who were nabbed by police with the help of people’s support, have disclosed during their preliminary questioning by police that majority of their activists have been asked by the ‘group commanders’ to shift towards upper reaches and avoid a direct contact with security forces for next two to three months.

The new strategy, according to official sources, appeared to have been mooted by the militant outfit keeping in view the ensuing Assembly elections in the State, which were due in September-October this year and for which the process was expected to be set in motion in June-July.

Sources said the militants’ statement also matched to their action on ground which was evident from the fact that during past few days, contacts have only been established with either Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) or Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfits in Doda and Kishtwar districts.

The militants arrested today have been identified as Khadam Hussain alias Khadam alias Aqib son of Sher Ali and Mohd Sharief alias Shahid Saleem son of Atta Mohd, both residents of Haddal, Doda. Recoveries made from their possession include two SLR rifles with magazines and ammunition, SSP Doda Manohar Singh said, adding that troops of 26 Rashtriya Rifles and 151 CRPF also joined the operation.

However, a Defence release said both the militants have surrendered.

Khadam, according to sources, was brother of two police constables—Abdul Qayoom and Mehar Baksh. While Qayoom had died last year while fighting with militants in Srinagar, Mehar Baksh was presently posted in Armed Police. Khadam has a total of 9 brothers.

Sources said the militants were nabbed from village Haddal under the jurisdiction of Gandoh police station when they had come down to plains to purchase ration items for the militants hiding in upper reaches.

While Khadam was an active militant since 2005, Shahid Salim had joined militancy in 2006. Both of them were involved in a number of subversive activities for the past two to three years.

According to sources, the Hizbul Mujahideen’s new strategy was an indication that the militants were preserving their men and ammunition for the Assembly elections to step up violence as soon as the elections process is set in motion.

There were 40-50 listed Hizbul Mujahideen militants and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in Doda and Kishtwar districts. With snow having started melting, Pakistan army and ISI could push more militants from across, they said.

India, Pak exchange prisoners list
Inadvertent border crossers to be released

CHANDIGARH, Mar 29:India and Pakistan today decided to work out mechanisms to expedite repatriation of inadvertent border crossers.

Efforts would be made to return inadvertent crossers immediately, ideally within 24 hours, to mitigate suffering of the families, said BSF’s Additional Director General (West) G S Gill while addressing a joint press conference with Major General Muhammad Haroon Aslam, Director General Rangers, (Punjab in Pakistan) at the end of the four-day meeting between the two sides.

Local commanders will be encouraged to mutually resolve minor issues related to border management.

Aslam said that Pakistan has as of now 42 inadvertent crossers including those from India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, while Gill said the Indian side has sent back 41 such crossers to Pakistan.

He said the two sides have agreed to "expedite repatriation of inadvertent border crossers to minimise the miseries of the families of those prisoners who continue to remain in jails of India and Pakistan due to lengthy and complicated repatriation procedures."

Gill said both forces agreed to improve awareness among border population to understand the alignment of International Boundary and to uphold its sanctity to avoid inadvertent crossings.

"Issues which were deliberated thoroughly included illegal crossing on the land borders and illegal fishing in Creek areas of Gujarat," Gill added.

Regarding defence-related construction works on the border, both sides assured to extend full cooperation by sensitising their field commanders to maintain sanctity of International Boundary, Gill said.

The surveyor and PWD officials of both India and Pakistan reviewed the progress of repair and re-construction of damaged/missing border pillars, Gill said.

On-the-spot resolution of minor problems by holding flag meetings at border outposts and the issue of old cases of Indian nationals in Pakistan jails and vice-versa were deliberated during the meeting, he added.

Issues relating to human trafficking and smuggling of narcotics and other contraband and the need for sharing of information and co-operation were also discussed during the four-day long meeting, he said.

Senior officers of the BSF, representatives of Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India and Public Works Department (PWD) also took part in the meeting.

Pakistan’s 14-member delegation included Major General Liaqat Ali, Director General, Pakistani Rangers (Sindh) and other senior officers of the Rangers and Survey of Pakistan.

To a query, Gill said they had exchanged lists of prisoners (in each country’s jails), but added it was for concerned agencies to decide their fate as the matter is "beyond border guarding forces".

Both sides today exchanged statements on issues which they had agreed during the meeting. (PTI)

Recovery proceedings against 3 JEs, MPW of RDD

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 29: In a sequel to surprise check conducted by the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) and subsequent communication to the Administrative Department, the Director Rural Development Department (RDD) has initiated departmental proceedings under "Service Conduct Rules" against three Junior Engineers (JEs) and a MPW, who were responsible for preparing documents which led to excess payment to the suppliers of signboards.

An official spokesman said that Vigilance Organisation received an input that the officials of RDD Kashmir in the districts of Anantnag and Pulwama have received below specification supplies of material during 2003-04.

Subsequently, a joint surprise check was conducted at various offices of RDD in south Kashmir in April 2004 and it came to fore that 204 signboards were procured from SICOP by various blocks of Pulwama and Anantnag districts.

The weight of each signboard as per the approved supply order was to be 110 to 120 kgs at the rate of Rs 41.20 per kg. However, during joint surprise check the weight of each signboard was found less by about 20 kgs of each signboard.

The concerned officials were found to have made payments to the suppliers through SICOP as per the supply order without actually ascertaining the weight of the supplied signboards and this led to the loss of Rs one lakh to the State exchequer.

The findings of a joint surprise check conducted by State Vigilance Organisation was communicated to Administrative Department as well as the Director RDD Kashmir and the Director initiated departmental proceedings under "Service Conduct Rules" against the officials who were found responsible for making such excess payment.

In the course of departmental enquiry, it was found that Mohd Ismail Khandey, then JE Block Pampore, Gulzar Ahmad and Mushtaq Ahmed JEs Block Kakpora district Pulwama and Mohd Hayat, MPW Block Pulwama were responsible for preparing documents which led to the excess payment to the suppliers.

The Director RDD has effected recoveries of Rs 65,386 from Mohd Ismail Khanday, Mohd Hayat and Mushtaq Ahmad while as recovery of Rs 9,738 from Gulzar Ahmad, JE was in process. The necessary entries have also been made in the service records of the delinquent officials.

NC to strengthen Panchayats if voted to power: Farooq
*To field honest candidates in polls

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Mar 29: Asking people of the State to shun hatred and violence, former Chief Minister and National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah today said "we must have economic prosperity, strength, knowledge and a moral and ethical fiber at grass root level to elevate ourselves to the status of a great nation."

He was speaking at a function organized to observe 26th death anniversary of former Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Ved Parkash at Jevan Nagar in Kathua.

The hatred and violence, he said, was eating very vitals of the society. To strengthen our State and country we need to change our approach and attitude, which was hindrance in the way of building a strong and peaceful nation.

"We want gains but no pains. We want only rights and no responsibilities. We are known more for mismanagement rather than our managerial skills," he contended, emphasizing greater responsibility on individual's part.

Farooq said it was necessary to set high goals to climb the ladder of success. "We have inherent talent and a vast knowledge pool. Together we can build a prosperous nation," he observed.

He said that division on the name of religion, region, caste and colour was the biggest enemy of our nation and politician, irrespect of their party affiliation, should be united to fight this enemy "if we want to take the path of prosperity and development."

"Dialogue process between India and Pakistan is immaterial if people of the two countries do not shun their hatred against each other", Dr Abdullah said, while emphasizing the need of building people to people contact between the two countries.

Assuring the gathering that his party will continue to work for welfare of the people and the State, the NC leader said, "unfortunately in this State," wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few politicians, bureaucrats, contractors, suppliers and middle men who have amassed it by virtue of economic exploitation, political and administrative corruption".

The State, he said, was not making desired development because of prevalent corruption among bureaucracy and lower echelons of the Government in connivance the public representatives right from Panchayat level to the top.

Observing that a lot needs to be done on ground level for bringing prosperity and peace to the State, the NC patron said he has vision of building a strong State by empowering the people at gross root level.

"Panchayati Raj is one of the tools to strengthen the Government and people at the same time", he said adding, if NC was voted to power, we aim at strengthening the Panchayati Raj Act by holding fresh elections and creating a transparent and accountable system for welfare of the people.

"With fresh Panchayat elections we will also strengthen the Chairmen at the district level so as to give three tire concept of Government".

The NC patron said that his party has always fought corruption tooth and nail and this menace is required to be eradicated. "We need to have target oriented policies to fight corruption at both political and bureaucratic level", he said.

"The National Conference will prefer honest, dedicated and judicious candidates in upcoming Assembly elections. We are monitoring probable candidates and only people with clean image will get the party mandate", he added.

NDA CMs up in arms against Centre

NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Training their guns at the Congress-led Centre, NDA-ruled States today accused it of "neglect" and "discrimination" as they unveiled a nine-point ‘chargesheet’ with a vow to "highlight inadequacies" in the farm loan waiver package and other policies.

The NDA also appeared to be gearing up for the polls as it decided to launch an agitation against the UPA’s "failure" to check "unbridled" price rise.

At a conclave here, nine NDA Chief Ministers accused the Centre of slashing Power and PDs quota to their States, "neglecting" them while distributing calamity relief funds and "discrimination" against them when it comes to developmental programmes like Highway and Rail projects.

The Chief Ministers complained that the Centre has not released funds promised to them for facing natural calamities like flood and drought, NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the meeting.

The Chief Ministers also raised the issue of slow progress in setting up of all India Institute of Medical Sciences in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar and Uttarakhand and how changes in the Forest Rights Act by the Centre is stopping them from issuing land documents to tribals.

On the Centre’s recent announcement of Rs 60,000 crore farm loan waiver package, the conclave sought to point out "inadequacies", saying many agriculturists would not benefit as they have unirrigated land of more than five hectares.

In clear signs that the NDA was planning to make it a major issue, Swaraj said the alliance has decided to raise the issue in Parliament and come out with a detailed document on Centre’s neglect of NDA States and take it to the people.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not attend the meeting which took place at the residence of Leader of Opposition L K Advani.

Swaraj said Kumar and his Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje were not well. JD(U) was represented by its chief Sharad Yadav. Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena also attended the meeting.

The conclave saw Chief Ministers presenting progress reports on the developmental projects undertaken by them and apprise Advani, NDA convenor George Fernandes, BJP chief Rajnath Singh of their performance.

Swaraj gave details of the relief funds promised by the Prime Minister for States facing flood and drought fury and the actual allocation made to butress her argument.

On discrimination by the Centre, she said Congress-ruled States like Delhi and Maharashtra get to distribute 22 and 10 litres of kerosene respectively to BPL families through the Public Distribution System while Bihar gets only three litres.

Swaraj said the Chief Ministers complained that the mineral policy announced by the Centre three days ago was against mineral-rich States as it takes away States’ right to select those who are ready to invest in the State.

She also referred to non-allocation of funds for BJP-ruled States for construction of Highways. "Out of the Rs 30,000 crore, not a single penny has been given to NDA States. Tamil Nadu alone has got Rs 11,000 crore," she added.(PTI)

PDD drive against defaulters to go on

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 29: To leave no scope for the defaulters going scot-free, the Power Development Department (PDD) has decided to continue its drive of snapping electricity connections for another two months.

Official sources said that since large number of defaulters were yet to be covered, the Department has decided to continue its drive for another two months, adding the drive was also being taken up in all the districts simultaneously to tighten noose around the defaulters.

They disclosed that following snapping of their power supply, a large number of defaulters have started clearing their outstanding power dues.

Meanwhile, the Department has collected Rs 417 crore revenue till March 27, 2008 in Jammu region as against the collection of Rs 294 crore during the previous financial year.

"The figure is likely to go up considerably as huge number of defaulters have yet to cough up their outstanding dues", the sources said.

Two cops accused in kidney racket

NEW DELHI, Mar 29: A city court today allowed the Delhi Police to quiz two constables, who along with six other colleagues, had allegedly extorted over Rs 19 lakh from an aide of kidney racket kingpin Dr Amit Kumar.

Constables Rakesh Kumar and Naresh Kumar, who faced a Test Identification Parade (TIP) in Tihar jail yesterday, were produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate A K Kuhar on the expiry of their judicial custody and were sent to police custody till March 31.

The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police informed the court that Dr Upender, an aide of Dr Amit Kumar who had allegedly bribed them to escape police action, took part in the TIP.

The accused duo, who had surrendered before it on March 24 after evading arrest for about one and half months.

The court allowed the plea of the EOW cell, which is probing the case, that the custodial interrogation of accused was required to collect incriminating evidence against them.

Earlier, Metropolitan Magistrate Chandra Shekhar had allowed a police application seeking TIP of the accused with Dr Upender, then lodged in Ambala prison in connection with another similar kidney transplant case.

The two constables, along with Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravinder Kumar Singh and others, had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs 19.85 lakh from Dr Upender, a close aide of Dr Amit, for letting him off after he was grilled in connection with the infamous case.(PTI)

New Pak cabinet on Monday

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29:After weeks of bargaining over portfolios, Pakistan’s ruling PPP-led coalition has drawn up a list of 23 Ministers who will be sworn-in by President Pervez Musharraf on Monday.

Pakistan People’s Party, the biggest coalition partner with 120 seats in the 342-member Lower House will have ten Ministers, closely followed by former premier Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N with eight Ministers, sources in the coalition said.

The rest of the slots will be filled by candidates from the Awami National Party, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and a grouping of 10 independent lawmakers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Musharraf will administer the oath of office to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s Cabinet at 1 pm on Monday at the Presidency.

The Cabinet will be expanded later in phases.

Though the PPP has decided to retain key Ministries like Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior with itself, it made a concession by allocating the crucial Finance portfolio to the PML-N. Ishaq Dar, a former Finance Minister and a close aide of Sharif is tipped to get the slot, sources said.

Following weeks of intense deliberations on the allocation of Ministries, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif approved the list of Ministers yesterday, they said.

Even though PML-N leaders had earlier indicated their unwillingness to be administered oath by Musharraf, Sharif has since said this is a "bitter pill" the party had to swallow in the interests of the coalition Government.

PML-N sources made it clear that the decision to allow party leaders to be sworn in by Musharraf did not mean the party is willing to compromise on its demand for the President to step down.

PPP and PML-N had announced to form the Government on Feburary 21 after elections were held in Pakistan on February 18. Yousuf Raza Gillani, a Bhutto loyalist, was named as the new Pakistan Prime Minister by PPP on March 22 ending a month-long suspense marked by bitter tussle for the top post.

Fazlur Rehman is expected to become Chairman of Parliament’s Kashmir Committee with the status of a Federal Minister, the sources said.

The potential PPP Ministers in the Cabinet are Shah Mehmood Qureshi (Foreign Affairs), Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar (Defence), Naveed Qamar (Ports and Shipping), Qamar Zaman Kaira (Northern areas and Kashmir Affairs), Farooq Naek (Law), Khurshid Shah (Labour and Overseas Pakistanis), Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (Water and Power), Nazar Gondal (Narcotics Control), Babar Awan (Human Rights) and Sherry Rehman (Information and Broadcasting).

Among PML-N members expected to become Ministers are Ishaq Dar (Finance), Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (senior Minister), Khwaja Asif (Petroleum and Natural Resources), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (Defence Production), Ahsan Iqbal (Education), Khawaja Saad Rafiq (Youth Affairs), Mehtab Abbasi (Railways) and Tehmina Daultana (Culture).

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is also expected to be given the Religious Affairs Ministry.

The ANP will get the Local Government and Rural Development and Social Welfare Ministries. The grouping from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas is expected to get the Population Welfare Ministry.(PTI)

Omar Abdullah opposes keeping Kashmir
issue in "deep freeze"

ISLAMABAD: Opposing suggestions that the Kashmir issue should be "deep frozen", National Conference president Omar Abdullah today claimed that PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari's stand that Indo-Pak ties should not be held hostage to the dispute had little support in Pakistan and J-K.

Such a stand would be the "option of the last resort" for the National Conference. "Besides, there is no guarantee that a future generation will be better (at resolving the issue)," Omar, the son of former J-K chief minister Farooq Abdullah, told PTI on the sidelines of a Pugwash conference here.

Omar Abdullah, whose party is in opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, insisted that National Conference did not want the Kashmir issue to be "deep frozen".

He said, "We should take a look at what has been achieved and we are willing to take that forward."

Abdullah made it clear that there is no "popular support on the ground" in Jammu and Kashmir for Zardari's stand that India-Pakistan relations should not be held hostage to the Kashmir issue, which should be set aside to be settled by a future generation.

He also claimed that Zardari had "backtracked" from his comments following the response in Jammu and Kashmir. Zardari's comments, made during an interview with an Indian TV news channel, were widely criticised by hardliners in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.

In his first policy speech, Pakistan's new prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani yesterday trumpeted Pakistan's long-standing policy on Kashmir saying "sacrifices" of Kashmiri people will not go waste and their "aspirations" will be taken on board while resolving the vexed issue.

Abdullah said President Pervez Musharraf's four-point proposal for settling the Kashmir issue still constitutes the best way forward for resolving the decades-old dispute as considerable work has been done on them by Pakistan and India.

However, it remains to be seen whether Pakistan's new government which comprises opponents of the increasingly unpopular military ruler will carry forward these proposals as they are "too closely identified with Musharraf", he said.

"The proposals made by Musharraf represent a framework that we can work with. There is enough in them that we can take forward," Abdullah .

Under his roadmap for resolving Kashmir unveiled in 2006, Musharraf had suggested the gradual withdrawal of troops from the region, self-governance and a joint supervision mechanism.

Abdullah also said no "significant changes" were likely in the Indian government's stand on the Kashmir issue till 2009, when a general election is due.

"The process in India has been institutionalised and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has continued with what was begun by his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee."

Despite the different stands of political parties and groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the National Conference would have no problems in working with other forces "in selling a solution" to the Kashmir issue.

At the same time, the Indian and Pakistani governments would have to take steps to fully implement the confidence-building measures announced for Kashmir.

"The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service hasn't added to the people's confidence. The linkages must actually work.

"There has to be trade across the Line of Control. And movement across the LoC cannot be confined to divided families and must be made available to everyone."

Besides Abdullah, People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, intellectuals and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the Pugwash conference. (PTI)

LoC be transformed into line of peace: Mehbooba Mufti

ISLAMABAD: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today reiterated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resolve that the LoC could be transformed into a 'line of peace' with a freer flow of ideas, goods, services and people.

Making a presentation on ''Prospects for Kashmir and Indo-Pak Relations'' at the two-day Pugwash conclave on regional stability here, she said the natural resources of the State could be used for the benefit of the people on the two sides for socio-economic development.

Suggesting a three-step approach to resolve the Kashmir issue, she said the resolution process must commence with introducing fundamental principles of the solution leading to creation of a dual power-sharing arrangement and combining it into the framework of Indian and Pakistan polity.

It was necessary to combine intra-state measures including decentralisation and power-sharing with inter-state and supra-state measures to achieve a stable, sustainable and just solution to the Kashmir issue.

''The sub-continental peace process has to walk on two legs -- the issue of resolution of Kashmir as one leg and normalisation of Indo-Pak relations as the other,'' Ms Mufti said, adding to isolate or quarantine the Kashmir issue with a view to move forward on India-Pakistan relations would be walking on one leg, which was neither stable nor sustainable.

Both the nations needed to restore traditional road links with the outside world. Jammu and Kashmir must have access to Mansarovar and rest of China through Ladakh and a link to Central Asia with Kargil as the take-off point, she said.

Suggesting setting up of a Regional Council for the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Mufti said it could serve as a major cross-border institution that would ensure long-term coordination of matters and interests relating to the whole State. ''The manner in which we are proposing to design the new institutional arrangements, the state has the potential to be a showcase for a renewed and vigorous SAARC or even a global showpiece of sub-national community,'' she said.

Acknowledging that the central leadership pioneered the peace process with resolve, the PDP President said, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr Singh as well as Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf have initiated and stood behind this peace process against all odds.

Now the challenge is not only in sustaining this new round of dialogue but also ensuring that it was insulated from the day-to-day setbacks that have often derailed the process in the past, she added. (UNI)