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Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on June 24 suggested softening of the line of control (LoC) for travel by people on both sides of Kashmir to help remove misperceptions about each other and greater people-to-people contact.

"Free movement of people across the border is imperative to ensure greater public interaction and lessening of tension," Mufti said and suggested softening of borders to allow people travel freely into each other's country.

He was speaking at a function organised by J and K chapter of the India Institute of Public Administration in connection with the release of a book "The Dying Terrorism, Ballot Defeated Bullet in Jammu and Kashmir".

Terming the last Assembly elections as historic, he said the people voted for good governance and not for solution to the Kashmir problem.

"They (people) voted for good governance and redressal of their socio-economic problems and didn't participate in the poll for solution of Kashmir dispute," he said.

The Chief Minister said, "Militancy didn't erupt on its own in Kashmir. There are some causes, some injustice and we have to address them. However, we have a democratic system and democratic means to address the issue," he added.

Mufti said even though Kashmir issue was going to take time for a solution, India and Pakistan cannot afford to remain hostile to each other till that time.

PTI