Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Chief Minister Mufti Moha-mmad Sayeed today welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, saying it is a step in the right direction.
Sayeed said he was delighted by Modi’s visit, which will further strengthen the bonds of friendship and usher in an era of peace and stability in the region.
This is an “evolutionary process and step in the right direction”, he said.
“It indicates the Prime Minister’s resolve to enter into a long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Sayeed hoped that the meeting between the two leaders will provide the much-needed momentum to the Compreh-ensive Bilateral Dialogue for peaceful resolution of all issues between the two countries.
This initiative, besides being a great step towards improvement of bilateral relations, will also give impetus to the concept of SAARC, he added.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said New Delhi’s engagement with Pakistan is a good step but called for consistency in the process instead of “grand gestures”.
“The re-engagement with Pakistan is a good step and a very welcome development.
“However, more than grand gestures we need consistency,” Omar said while reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop over in Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief.
The working president of National Conference also expressed the hope that the two Prime Ministers will address the lack of consistency and knee jerk reactions of the past.
“Indo-Pak relations have been plagued by knee-jerk reactions and a lack of consistency.
“Looking towards to the two PMs to correct this time,” he wrote on Twitter.
In an earlier tweet, Omar had made a sarcastic remark that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed might take credit for the meeting between Modi and Sharief.
“Now waiting for the statement from J&K Govt claiming that Mufti Sayeed was the one who forced PM Modi to visit Lahore today,” he said.
In Srinagar, separatists welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lahore today, with moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq terming it “a positive move” and hardline faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani saying they have no objection to improved relations between India and Pakistan.
“We do not have any issues with relations improving between India and Pakistan… No right thinking persons shall have any reservation on it. However, the two countries have to address the Kashmir issue as per wishes and aspirations of the people if these endeavours are to succeed,” Geelani said.
Reacting to Modi’s surprise stopover in Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who is celebrating his 66th birthday today, the hardline Hurriyat leader said, “We hope that Pakistan will also remain steadfast on its stand on Kashmir issue.”
Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan is a positive move. People of Kashmir welcome any opportunity that bring India and Pakistan close.”
The Mirwaiz further said, “Political will and vision is needed on all sides to address issues, specially Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, Abdul Gani Bhat, head of Muslim Conference, a constituent of the moderate Hurriyat faction, said his party supports the resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan.
“Muslim Conference pledges support to the resumption of what is now termed as comprehensive dialogue to resolve all disputes, including of course the dispute on Kashmir, and consider this development as an effectively civilised means to move out from the frozen yesterdays to a peacefully productive tomorrow,” Bhat said.
Admitting that no dialogue process has so far produced any results, Bhat said the situation now was different in the backdrop of the dynamics of global economic liberalisation as an order, which pre-supposes that peace and disputes can never co-exist.
“As such, the dispute on Kashmir will have to be resolved. Let no gloom of yesterday’s blur any prospect of a better and brighter tomorrow,” the Muslim Conference leader added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel