Prime Minister inaugurates 119-km-long Qazigund-Anantnag rail link

Anantnag: Offering the olive branch to Pakistan, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday said that India is willing to talk to anyone who has any meaningful ideas for promoting peace and development in Kashmir. Inaugurating the 119-km-long Qazigund-Anantnag rail link here, Dr. Singh said: "I had also said that I was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. I did so not because of weakness but from a position of strength. We had the most fruitful and productive discussions ever with the Government of Pakistan during the period 2004-07 when militancy and violence began to decline. Intensive discussions were held on all issues including on a permanent resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir." "We want to carry all sections of the people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir," he added. However, he said: "Trade facilities at the border are inadequate. There are no banking channels. Customs facilities need to be strengthened. There are no trade fairs. The lists of tradable commodities need to be increased. Clearances for travel take time. Prisoners of India and Pakistan are languishing in each other's jails even after completing their sentences." He said, the fact is that these are humanitarian issues require the cooperation of Pakistan for resolution. "We are ready to discuss these and other issues with the Government of Pakistan. I hope that as a result things will be made easier for our traders, divided families, prisoners and travelers. For a productive dialogue it is essential that terrorism must be brought under control," he added. Asking Pakistan to destroy terrorist groups, he said: "I hope that the Government of Pakistan will take the ongoing actions against the terrorist groups to their logical conclusion. They should destroy these groups wherever they are operating and for whatever misguided purpose." He called upon the people and Government of Pakistan to show their sincerity and good faith. As I have said many times before, we will not be found wanting in our response, he added. The Prime Minister said India would press Pakistan to curb the activities of those elements that are engaged in terrorism in India. "If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure," he said. The perpetrators of the acts of terror must pay the heaviest penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity, he added. "I strongly believe that the majority of people in Pakistan seek good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan. They seek a permanent peace. This is our view as well," he said. The Prime Minister further said that it is important to connect families across the Line of Control (LoC). "The cross-LoC initiatives have been well received on both sides of the border," he added. The Prime Minister appealed to the youth of Kashmir to join in building a new Kashmir. Dr. Singh said: "I understand their frustration. But things are changing. I urge them to think constructively about how to build their futures." "We have to speed up the pace of development in the state. We have to reverse the brain drain that has denuded the state of many of its teachers, doctors, engineers and intellectuals. We have to create the conditions for them to return and to be the instruments of change and development. We want to strengthen the hands of the State Govt. so that they can implement an ambitious development agenda," he added. He said the Central Government would make all efforts to involve the youth of the State in constructive work. "Under the "Skill Development to Employment" Programme, the Ministry of Tourism will train 300 youths of the State. In addition, 200 youths will be trained and deployed as tourist escorts during the Amarnath and Vaishno Devi Yatras," he said. Speaking on development of the IT sector in Jammu and Kashmir, he said: "We will fully support the efforts of the State in this area. I am happy that more than 600 youth of the State trained under a Central Government project have been employed in the IT sector recently." "I am happy to announce that the Government of India has decided to set up two Central Universities in Jammu and Kashmir, one in Jammu and one in Kashmir," he added. The Prime Minister also urged that the elections to local bodies be held quickly. This will increase the people's participation in the processes of development. On cleaning of the Dal Lake, he said: "We have been funding a project for the conservation of the lake but progress has been slow. I would urge the State Government to set up a task force to expedite the project. The Centre has decided to commit additional funds of Rs. 356 cr for this project," he said. Earlier, addressing a public rally here before inaugurating the railway section between Anantnag and Qazigund in Kashmir Dr. Singh said: "Today, I want to reiterate that we are ready for talks with those people who want to restore peace, tranquility and development in Jammu and Kashmir. We want to take all sections of society of Jammu and Kashmir with us for the political and diplomatic solution of the Kashmir issue." Dr. Singh also said that a friendship between India and Pakistan was in the interest of both the nations. "There are moments in history when wrong decisions are taken the effects of which are felt for ages. I appeal to Pakistan government that it should carry forward the hand of friendship extended by us. It is in the interest of the people of both India and Pakistan," Singh said. Dr. Singh urged Pakistan to keep all anti-India groups under control and not let its soil be used for terror activities. "We would urge the Pakistan government to curb on all those elements which are inciting terror in India. If such elements are non-state actors, then also it is the duty of the government to wipe out their establishments and structures," Singh said. Moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the main political separatist alliance in Kashmir, had held talks with the Centre in 2004, the first between the two sides since militancy began in 1989. The last round of Kashmir talks was held in May 2006. Prime Minister Singh and the Hurriyat leaders had agreed to establish a system to discuss solutions to the dispute over Kashmir. But Hurriyat split in 2003 when hardliners headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani walked out after moderates decided to hold talks with New Delhi. Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi also addressed the public rally and said that the inauguration of rail link was a sign of development and prosperity in the state. "Today a railway link from Anantnag to Qazigund will be inaugurated, which is a sign of development and prosperity of the state," said Sonia Gandhi. The new railway section will link Anantnag with Qazigund, 18 kilometres away. This is the final portion of the railway project from Qazigund to Baramulla in the valley. Rest of the line is already through.