The Australian High Commissioner in India John McCarthy called on Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and discussed the Kashmir situation with him. The Chief Minister while interacting with him said that it was in the interest of both India and Pakistan to live in the atmosphere of peace.
He informed the envoy that various steps had been taken for opening of the roads including Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads in order to ensure people to people contact.
He also said that Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route was being converted as free trade route and the representatives of trade, commerce and industries were meeting to chalk out the trade programmes for conducting trade of identified items between two sides. He hoped that with the start of this trade, Jammu and Kashmir would be poised towards prosperity and affluency. It will be able to make up the colossal economic losses, which it had suffered during last 17 years, he added.
The Chief Minister informed the high commissioner about Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's personal interest for involving all representatives of the people and other separate groups in dialogue process. He said after successful Round Table Conference (RTC) in New Delhi, the second RTC was held in occupied Srinagar.
Azad also informed the high commissioner that Jammu and Kashmir state particularly Kashmir valley had miserably suffered during last two decades and several families whose livelihood depends on tourism have faced hardships.
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