Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party Sunday described as historic the visa liberalisation agreement between India and Pakistan but regretted that the fruits of the reconciliation process have not reached Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is a great day for relations between the two nations. The visa agreement is historic," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here.
She, however, said it was unfortunate that the fruits of the reconciliation process between New Delhi and Islamabad have not reached Jammu and Kashmir.
"People of this state should have been the first beneficiary of the reconciliation process between India and Pakistan as they have borne the brunt of animosity between them over the years," Mehbooba said.
She said the confidence-building measures with regard to cross-LoC travel and trade discussed at the earlier meeting between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistan counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar have not been taken forward so far.
"The opening of Kargil Skardu road, banking and communication facilities for cross-LoC trade and extending the travel on these routes beyond the divided families are some of the issues we have expected to be taken forward," she said.
Mehbooba said her party will use all democratic means to press for implementation of these demands which form the core of the PDP manifesto.
"We will agitate on these issues by all means within the democratic set-up," she said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, September 09, 2012, 19:29