Pakistan's main opposition parties described the results of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir as "an opportunity to continue the composite dialogue process."
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's main opposition parties on Sunday described the results of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir as "an opportunity to continue the composite dialogue process" between India and Pakistan, even as the government is yet to react to the popular verdict, which saw high 61 per cent turnout.
"These elections should be translated into an opportunity to continue the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan, as well as the intra-Kashmir dialogue and talks between the Kashmiris and the Indian and Pakistani governments," said Opposition PML-Q spokesman Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
Responding to the results of the polls, the PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal underlined the importance of the Lahore Declaration of 1999, which lays the foundation for the composite dialogue and for steps to resolve the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people.
"The polls in Jammu and Kashmir were boycotted by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and there was some controversy about the process. The actual solution can be found in the Lahore Declaration of 1999, which lays the foundation for the composite dialogue and for steps to resolve the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of the three parties involved India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris," stressed Iqbal, a close aide of party chief Nawaz Sharif.
PPP spokesman said the government would comment on the outcome of the polls as the party is now part of the coalition at the centre.
Even as expressing his happiness over the election process in Jammu and Kashmir, Sayed underlined the need for the expression of "the popular will" of the Kashmiri people.
"We are happy about the process of elections in Jammu and Kashmir but they are not a substitute for the expression of the popular will of the Kashmiri people, which is the right to self-determination," said Sayed, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
He said reports suggest there has been a better turnout than before though this "reflects the strong urge among the people for alleviation of local problems."
The seven-phase elections in the Indian state, which concluded on December 24, saw 61 per cent of the total electorate exercising their franchise.
Iqbal claimed the "Indian leadership's handling of the crisis caused by the Mumbai attacks have set back the peace process by many years and negated the gains made in terms of people-to-people contacts and confidence building."
He said the "clubbing together" of the elements responsible for the Mumbai attacks and the whole of Pakistani society has produced a "negative reaction" in the country and strengthened the hands of extremists.
"There should have been a mature response by the Indian government which could have paved the way for India to join hands with the people and government of Pakistan to fight (the elements behind the Mumbai attacks)," Iqbal stressed.
He also said Mumbai attacks could have been a "catalyst to bring people together" for a "united front in South Asia" to fight such elements.
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