Resumption of trade talks with Pakistan good omen: National Conference

The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir today termed the resumption of trade talks between India and Pakistan as a "good omen", and said the development has raised hopes about reopening of all routes between the divided parts of Kashmir.

"The resumption of talks between commerce secretaries of India and Pakistan is a good omen. It has generated hopes that all the historical routes used by citizens of Jammu and Kashmir for trade and free movement will be reopened," general secretary of National Conference Sheikh Nazir Ahmad said in a statement here.

Reiterating his party's stand that the key to the solution of Kashmir issue lies in good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan, Ahmad said National Conference has been demanding the reopening of all closed routes between the divided parts of Kashmir since its formation.

"The people of the state have been demanding opening of these routes and free movement for the last 63 years after all they are the real masters of this land and it is their basic right to move freely to meet their relations and engage in trade as was the case before 1947," the senior National Conference leader said.

"Since both the countries are coming closer to address their outstanding issues, the need of the hour is to address Kashmir," he said.

"The party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah visited Pakistan in 1964 and demanded resolution of Kashmir issue but the mission failed due to the death of first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru," Ahmad said.