in JKReasi, Jan 14 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief MinisterMehbooba Mufti today reminded Pakistan about the promise itsformer president Pervez Musharraf had made to former primeminister AB Vajpayee to maintain peace along the borders andsought its help in ending the bloodshed in the state.
She also appealed to India to give up confrontation withPakistan, saying it was the people of the state who weresuffering due to the animosity between the two nations.
"We have to restart the reconciliation process withPakistan and you (India) have a bigger role in the process inJammu and Kashmir," Mufti said, addressing the attestation-cum-passing out parade of 911 police recruits at thesubsidiary police training centre in Talwara here.
She expressed hoped that the Pakistan government and itsArmy would extend the hand of friendship to help end thebloodshed in the state.
"Musharraf had made a promise to Vajpayee aboutmaintaining peace along the borders, to stop infiltration ofmilitants and not to use Pakistan soil against India," shesaid.
"We are not able to stop the infiltration of militantscompletely. If we kill 200 militants, 200 others come. IED andsuicide attacks add to our miseries," she added.
Mufti said she hoped that they understood it and "asVajpayee used to say that we will address Kashmir onhumanitarian grounds, Pakistan will extend its support to helpend the bloodshed in the state".
The chief minister asked what was the reason for theconfrontation.
"A piece of land...Help in saving the lives of thepeople. Use the money spent on fighting for the betterment ofthe people and give good hospitals, schools and roads so thatwe can also live in peace," she said.
She expressed displeasure over the provocative statementscoming from both sides.
"Eant ka jawab pathher se denge (we will respond to abrick by throwing a stone)...Whenever a bullet is fired,someone loses their life," she said.
"These are our challenges. These challenges were therefor the last 70 years but took the shape of the gun over thelast three decades," she said demanding an end to theseprovocative statements.
She said Vajpayee's statement that "we can change ourfriends but not neighbours" holds the key to moving forward.
Mufti said there were a number of problems in restoringpeace as without it there would be no development in thestate.
"Today our border villagers are living in fear and we aretalking about constructing bunkers for them instead ofconcentrating on giving them good living conditions," shesaid.
Mufti listed various steps taken by her government forthe betterment of the police force, and said "The Jammu andKashmir Police is the best force as it is faced with anextraordinary law and order situation. Your role is to pullout the state from this difficult phase and restore peace."The chief minister asked the policemen to have a humaneapproach while dealing with the people.
"In this challenge, you have to face your own people. A15-year-old boy with a stone in his hand stands up tochallenge your authority. What will you do? Your work isdifficult and sensitive but I'm hopeful that you will meet thechallenge," she said. PTI TASAAR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.