Srinagar, June 23: Exhorting people not to expect immediate results from the ongoing efforts to normalise Indo-Pak relations as it was a time consuming process, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has assured people of the state to bring back peace and amity to Kashmir. "Nobody should wait for complete peace and normalcy as the process of development has to be taken forward," Mufti said addressing a series of public meetings in south Kashmir's Pulwama district yesterday.
Mufti said an atmosphere of peace is "gradually dawning" in the sub-continent following the bold peace initiative taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the positive response of Pakistan. "The stage is set for resuming Indo-Pak talks and we pray success to it as it was the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have suffered immensely due to the confrontation. Today, we have a stake in peace between the two neighbours," he said.
He assured the people that his government would fulfill the mandate of peace and development and that Kashmir will once again become an abode of peace and amity. Mufti acquired the distinction of being the first chief minister to visit militancy-infested Shopian, Rajpora and Drubgam by road.
Accompanied by host of ministers, MLAs and a team of senior officers, the chief minister visited the once dangerous Rambiara and Kellar belts in the district.
Brushing aside security concerns, he spent nearly nine hours treading rural roads in Shopian, Rajpora and Drubgan. Bureau Report