Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the government will give a positive response if militants announce ceasefire during Ramzan.
SRINAGAR: Support for internal ceasefire in Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan is gaining momentum following the Indo-Pak joint statement in Havana, which is being considered a gigantic step towards peace.
"Complete cessation of hostilities in Jammu & Kashmir could be a positive follow up to the Havana declaration. It would be a grand gift from Dr Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf to the people of the state, if they put an end to the conflict and tragic destruction of life and property," said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron.
Main opposition party, the National Conference, too favored an internal ceasefire and said the initiative should come from New Delhi. "There is no harm if New Delhi initiates and declares unilateral ceasefire because the atmosphere is now conducive after the Havana meet. The Centre has taken such initiatives in the past and they should come with a complete political package which could restore the confidence of the people," said Dr Mehboob Beig, provincial president of the National Conference.
J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has already said that the government will give a positive response if the militants announce the ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan starting September 25.
Moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference also favored the ceasefire. "We appreciate the leaders initiative in Havana. We also support the truce calls. But the ceasefire should mean an end to bloodshed and the forces should go back to barracks so that people could feel it on ground," said Moulana Mohammad Abbaas Ansari, former chairman of moderate Hurriyat.
However, the hardliners led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani rejected the call for ceasefire saying it has not solved any issue in the past. "There have been ceasefires since 1949 but nothing has come out,” said Geelani.
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