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Thaw in Indo-Pak Relations Imperative for Peace: Kashmir Chief Minister

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 15: Apologising for the initial mishandling of the rape and murder case of two women, the pro-India chief minister of Kashmir Omar Abdullah Saturday said that India-Pakistan relations are imperative for peace in the region.

Addressing the main function of India's Independence Day at Bakshi Stadium here, Omar said that dialogue is the only means to address issues and work out an amicable solution. He said that India and Pakistan should consistently talk and that a thaw in their relations is a must for peace in the region.

Advocating a review in the Indus-water-treaty by India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that this is yet another bottleneck for us to generate power from the rivers owned by Kashmir. "The treaty has been signed long before and both the countries need to re-visit its provisions and work out a formula under which Kashmir can benefit by utilizing the waters of its own rivers," he added.

Omar said the protection of human rights continues to be the top agenda of his government. "We have shown by our actions that the violators of human rights would not be allowed to go scot free. Our government has brought to book the violators and worked for their severe punishment," he said, and added that those responsible for the heinous Shopian crime would be brought before the law for severe punishment. "Our government will not hide any information and dig out the culprits in a transparent manner to give justice to the victims and the affected family," he said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the necessity of strengthening trade through LoC and advocated opening the Kargil-Askardu road and allowing general people to travel across the LoC without cumbersome travel restrictions and regulations.

Referring to climate change and global warming, the Chief Minister said that the current heat wave in the state warns us of the bad effects of pollution and environmental degradation. "The time is ripe enough that we the people in Kashmir think for safeguarding the future of our state and our progeny by actively working for protection, preservation and conservation of our environment, forests and water bodies," he maintained.

Recalling the peaceful and lovely days of Kashmir some 20 years earlier, when love, affection, co-existence of different sections of society and people of various religious faiths living in amity ruled the roost, Omar said that during those days no mother would worry about the safe return of her son or daughter who had gone to play cricket or visit some tourist place.

"The days were so beautiful and brotherhood and mutual love was so abundant that Hindus and Sikhs would celebrate Eid with their Muslim neighbours and Muslims attend the Desehra function at Hazooribagh to witness the burning of effigies of Rawana representing evil forces," he said. Adding that he wants to bring those days back to the valley, he appealed to the people to lend him their whole-hearted support.

Referring to the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the Chief Minister said that the issue has been flagged as an important one and taken up with the Central government at the highest level.

"We are seriously perusing the issue and the day will not be too far when good news about the same will reverberate in the valley and other parts of the state."

He said with the improvement in the situation and return of total peace, the special powers of security forces will automatically go and men in uniform on the streets will be seldom seen.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.