New Delhi, April 3
Soon after his return from a successful visit to Mauritius, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said his government would persuade Pakistan to allow political leaders to board the inaugural journey of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.The historic bus service would unite divided families across the border after more than half a century.
Pakistan has not allowed several leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including president of the state's ruling People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and main opposition party, National Conference, leader Omar Abdullah, who wanted to board the inaugural bus on April 7.
‘‘Our approach is that there should be a free flow of people and ideas between India and Pakistan. So our effort will be to persuade Pakistan to encourage people to people contact in the widest possible sense of the term,’’ Mr Manmohan Singh said.
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has reportedly said he would approach the Prime Minister regarding the matter and would request him to do the needful, so that the leaders could travel in the bus.
The bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad is being seen as one of the most concrete signs of a cautious peace process between the nuclear rivals India and Pakistan after decades of violence.
A ceasefire line separated thousands of Kashmiri families after India and Pakistan plunged into first war over the Himalayan region in 1947-48.
Altogether nearly 45,000 persons have been killed in the spate of militancy, which started in 1989 in the valley.
Mr Manmohan Singh also said India was willing to discuss all issues with Pakistan when President Pervez Musharraf arrives in New Delhi later this month to watch a India-Pakistan cricket match.
Musharraf is also due to hold talks with the Prime Minister to push the pace of peace talks
launched last year between the two countries.
‘‘I have said this on more than one occasion that we are willing to discuss all issues which have a vital bearing on the relationship between the two countries," Mr Manmohan Singh said.
In reply to a question, he said India was anxiously awaiting the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao next week.
‘‘Our relations with China have grown economically. There is peace and
tranquility on the border. We will discuss on this occasion the broader framework of our relations and I am very eagerly looking forward to welcome the Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to our country as an honoured guest,’’ he said.
A longstanding boundary dispute between China and India will be on the agenda when the Chinese Premier visits New Delhi from April 9, but it will not stand in the way of cooperation, China said on Friday. — ANI
