Mehbooba Mufti Calls for Jammu and Kashmir to Become Gateway Between South and Central Asia

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday asked the central government to make Jammu and Kashmir a gateway between South and Central Asia and use its geographical location to strengthen ties with Pakistan and China. Talking to reporters here, she said, Things are changing in the world. You saw a small country like Iran using its strategic location, the Strait of Hormuz, to bend a superpower like the US. Jammu and Kashmir also has a strategic geographical location. The former chief minister stressed that Jammu and Kashmir has been embroiled in a conflict between India and Pakistan that has caused suffering to its people. She said, Instead of making it a battlefield, a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan should be built. Roads should be opened, there should be movement between the two countries. She also welcomed recent RSS statements in favour of dialogue. Quoting former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's dictum,'Friends can't be changed,'Mehbooba said,'No matter how powerful the legacy of the prime minister's rule was decided by this year. '