Mehbooba’s only agenda: Kashmir

The PDP president and newly-elected MP from South Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, will have a single-point agenda in Lok Sabha: Make the Kashmir is...

The PDP president and newly-elected MP from South Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, will have a single-point agenda in Lok Sabha: Make the Kashmir issue heard in Parliament.

Expressing unhappiness over ‘‘isolation of Kashmiris’’ from benefits of the improvement in ties between India and Pakistan, Mehbooba made a case for Kashmir-specific CBMs. She said these would augur well for peace in the region, adding that opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road will be the first step in building bridges between the people.

‘‘Opening of the road eminently qualifies among the first steps that would bring relief to the people here and give them a sense of participation with the peace process,’’ Mehbooba told mediapersons in Srinagar today.

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According to her, cricket matches and cross-border showbiz events wouldn’t help unless backed by free movement of people from PoK to the Valley. ‘‘Kashmiris are being isolated as it’s people from India and Pakistan who are getting a chance to meet,’’ she said.

Though welcoming the CMP which, she says, reiterates the Governments intention of pursuing unconditional talks with separatists and Pakistan, she said the Kashmir issue should be given priority. Mehbooba will also press for lifting the ban on recruitment in government jobs.