Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flanked by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor NN Vohra at a public meeting in Anantnag on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War

Wanpoh (Anantnag), October 28
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reached out to Pakistan for carrying forward the ties of friendship, but at the same time made it clear that the neighbouring nation would first have to curb the activities of elements targeting India.

Addressing a largely attended gathering while inaugurating the 19-km Anantnag-Qazigund railway section in south Kashmir, Singh also made an appeal to the state youth to join in the building of a new Kashmir.

And in an opaque reference to the proposed talks with separatists, the Prime Minister expressed willingness to talk to anyone “who had any meaningful ideas for promoting peace and development in Kashmir”. “We want to carry all sections of the society along in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Prime Minister said.

Also present on the occasion were UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, Union Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of State Prithivi Raj Chavan, Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Notably, Singh had flagged off the first ever train in Kashmir from Srinagar on October 11 last. And with today’s inauguration, the 119-km-long railway link has got completed.

Asserting that terrorism only led to death and destruction, the PM said: “The perpetrators of the acts of terror must pay the heaviest penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity.” He held that the “real face of terrorism was clear for the people of Pakistan to see with their own eyes”. Singh hoped that Islamabad showed sincerity in acting against the perpetrators of terrorism.

Between 2004 and 2007, said Singh, his government was always ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. And during this period when militancy and violence were on the decline, he said, the “most fruitful” and “productive” discussions ever were held with the Government of Pakistan.

His government, said the Prime Minister, was committed to having unconditional dialogue with anyone who abjured violence. “We had discussions with different groups. We had a number of ‘Roundtable Conferences’. All issues were discussed. We tried to give voice to the demands of all sections of the people. We have implemented a number of initiatives as a result of this process,” he said.

CM Omar Abdullah, too, reiterated the importance of Centre-state internal dialogue to resolve various issues. The economic packages have their own significance in the development process but political issues require political dealing and dialogue was the only medium for it, he said.

Omar assured his government’s help in making the situation conducive for resumption of state-Centre talks so that issues were politically addressed and resolved amicably, and, thereby, the state relieved from the shadow of gun. “It is very important for us that an effective dialogue process takes place to deal with the political aspect of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.