Date:12/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/12/stories/2003121204181300.htm

National

Former U.S. envoys meet Mufti

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu Dec. 11. A delegation of former United States ambassadors called on the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and presented a road map on solving the Kashmir issue. The delegation comprised Dennis Kux, senior scholar, Woodrow Wilson Centre, Nicholas Plutt, President, Asia Society and David Greenway, Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The delegation presented a copy of the report `New Priorities in South Asia' of a task force co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and Asia Society.

Expressing optimism that the ceasefire and other confidence-building measures initiated by India and Pakistan would lead to lasting peace in the region, the Chief Minister said things were moving in the right direction.

The Mufti told the delegation that it must help withdraw adverse travel advisories on Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it would help in revival and promotion of tourism in the State.

He said the peace initiative taken by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the positive response from Pakistan has kindled new hope for the people of both countries.