J&K parties welcome India-Pak agreement on ceasefire

STATE TIMES NEWS

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and the PDP on Thursday welcomed the agreement between armies of India and Pakistan on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors.
“We welcome it and hope that the statement will be followed in letter & spirit. JKNC has always been a strong supporter of the ceasefire along the LoC,” the party said in a statement.
“This will allow people living along the LoC & IB (International Border) to go about their normal lives with minimal disruption & risk,” the party said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet welcomed the ceasefire announcement and said dialogue was the only way forward.
“A big & welcome development that India & Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC. Dialogue is the only way forward if both countries want to stop the unending cycle of violence & bloodshed across the borders and J&K,” Mehbooba said.
India and Pakistan have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors, according to a joint statement on Thursday.
The moderate faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference also welcomed the agreement between armies of India and Pakistan on ceasefire, and said it will provide a huge relief to the “beleaguered” people.
“It is a move in the right direction, which will provide huge relief to the beleaguered people living under constant threat on the LoC and end the bloodshed there,” the Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement.
The Hurriyat said the governments of India and Pakistan need to address the core concern of Jammu and Kashmir in keeping with the aspirations of its people.
The separatist conglomerate said that “talks are the best means to address this concern and we have always advocated it”.