‘Pak comment on peace with India is taken seriously’
Meanwhile, restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar on Monday to thwart a proposed rally by separatists on the death anniversaries of two leaders even as life was affected in rest of the valley due to a shutdown. This is third day of restrictions since Saturday when Modi was in Kashmir to inaugurate some projects.
Shops, businesses and educational institutes were closed while Kashmir University examinations have been postponed.
Separatist leaders under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had called for a shutdown and urged people to gather at Mazar-e-shuhada (the martyrs’ graveyard) in Srinagar’s Eidgah to commemorate the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
In a statement, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the contribution made by the two leaders in the socio-political awakening of people would long be remembered. She said the best tribute to them would be that the people commit themselves to peaceful means for resolution of issues. NEWDELHI: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that India would take seriously any comment from Pakistan calling for peace between the two countries.
She was responding to a question on Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s statement last month that peaceful resolution of disputes between India and Pakistan, including Kashmir, was only possible through a comprehensive and meaningful dialogue. “Any comment (from Pakistan) on wanting peace will definitely be taken seriously,” she said on the sidelines of a seminar on artificial intelligence.
Sitharaman also said that the army would abide by the Centre’s decision to halt counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.