The Hindu : Mufti wants Pakistanis to visit Jammu & Kashmir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003

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International - India & World

Mufti wants Pakistanis to visit Jammu & Kashmir

London Nov. 15. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has favoured visits of Pakistanis to the State, as it would expose Islamabad's ``mischievous propaganda.''

``We are not the captives of security forces, but a free people. Let there be regular flow of people visiting Kashmir from Pakistan and its occupied Kashmir as we have nothing to hide. In fact, they would see with their own eyes the flowering democracy in Kashmir,'' Mr. Sayeed said in reply to questions from Pakistani journalists after delivering a lecture on ``A New Future for Kashmir — Prospects, Renewal and Growth.''

Mr. Sayeed said he had asked the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to encourage the Pakistanis to visit Kashmir as it would help change their mindset. ``Our people would also see what is the state of affairs across the border and will know once and for all pardey key peechhe kaya hey (what is behind the veil).''

When asked how he expected tourism to flourish in Kashmir when the Army was patrolling the streets of Srinagar, he said that once the Pakistanis saw the ``flowering democracy'' and relaxed atmosphere without any visible presence of the Army the ``mischievious propaganda'' would automatically die down. — PTI

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