Srinagar, July 19: Asserting vindication of his anti-gun culture stand, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today welcomed Pakistani senator Maulana Fazlur Rehman's statement favouring bilateral negotiations to resolve Kashmir issue. "It is good that realisation is fast dawning about the futility of the gun even on the hardliners,” Sayeed said addressing that the central police welfare committee at Zewan on the outskirts of the city.

Sayeed said that this was a change of heart and hopeful sign of the accelerating peace process between India and Pakistan.

Rejecting third party mediation, Rehman had on Thursday recommended Simla agreement as the guiding principle to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally.
Referring to the election of moderate Shia cleric Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari as Hurriyat Conference chairman, Sayeed said that the internal dimension of the Kashmir issue also needs to be addressed.

"The statements of the new Hurriyat chief are also encouraging and a favourable climate is gradually generated in the state for a meaningful dialogue,” he said.

Bureau Report