Srinagar: The Hurriyat Conference on May 2 welcomed the measures taken by Vajpayee government, including the decision to appoint High Commissioner to Pakistan, to carry forward the peace initiative saying time had come to address problems between the two countries, particularly the Kashmir issue, to ensure permanent peace in the region.

"I think there is a realisation in India and Pakistan that now is the time to address the problems, particularly Kashmir, to ensure permanent peace in the region," Chairman of 23-party separatist conglomerate Abdul Gani Bhat said.

Reacting to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's statement in the Lok Sabha on May 2, Bhat said Vajpayee's speech in Srinagar marked the beginning of an understanding between the leadership of two countries in the larger interest of people in the entire South Asian region.

"Neither India nor Pakistan can afford the luxury of sleeping over the problems that constitute potential threat to peace in the region," the Hurriyat chairman said, adding he hoped the leaders of the two countries "will rise to the occasion and move forward with a will and with wisdom to achieve peace and ensure prosperity".

The leadership in the sub-continent was aware of the concern across the globe over the tension between India and Pakistan.

"It is therefore incumbent on the leadership to address the issue and take into account the sensitivities involved in the situation," he said, "if we have to prove to the world that we have the capability at our own level to deal with any situation the message will go far and wide that India and Pakistan are the real peace makers in the region".

PTI