Chennai: Mooting a multi-pronged strategy aimed at finding a solution to the Kashmir situation, prominent persons aboard the Japanese "Peace Boat" on October 7 emphasised the need for opening a dialogue between India and Pakistan with involvement of the people of Kashmir in the discussions to bring peace in the Valley.

At a press conference on board the vessel, former Navy Chief, Admiral R Ramdas, appealed for converting the line of control (LoC) into "a line of peace. Unless we respect the people's views there cannot be a ray of hope," he said.

Pointing out that "Jammu and Kashmir has taken India and Pakistan to three and half wars", he called for halting of Army operations and cessation of violence in the Valley as a first step, to creating a conducive atmosphere for holding peace talks.

"People of the future world want peace and not conflict and to live as neighbours," he said.

Echoing the Admiral's view that both India and Pakistan had only loss of lives and heavy expenditure to show after the wars, Pakistan scholar and activist Jaffer Ahmed said a solution was not possible unless there was political will.

The ship, on its 43rd "Voyage for Peace and International Cooperation", docked in Chennai port on October 7 morning.

Besides the crew, the vessel with over 600 on board, including students, teachers, scientists and social activists, had set sail from Tokyo on September 21 and arrived at Singapore on October 2 on its way to Chennai. It will further sail for Colombo.

The ship is slated to visit various parts of the world including the US before returning to Japan on December 22.

Calling for demilitarisation in Kashmir and a freeze on weapons production, Jaffer Ahmed also said the governments should initiate dialogue with people concerned without pre-conditions.

Coming out firmly against any third country interference in the affairs of the region, he said the problems faced in South Asia should be sorted out by the concerned countries among themselves.

Ahmed stressed the need for allowing civil societies of both India and Pakistan to address their respective governments.

Altaf Khan, a resident of Srinagar, made an impassioned plea for allowing the people of Jammu and Kashmir to sit and find an answer to the problem.

Asking for a ceasefire to be declared and killings be stopped immediately, he said the situation in the Valley had claimed 60,000 lives, left about 7000 missing and had also resulted in about three lakh Kashmir Pundits living as refugees in their own country.

Meanwhile, social activist Mythili Sivaraman said about one lakh people were expected to converge in Mumbai in January 2004 when the World Social Forum (WSF) holds its fourth annual meeting, the first outside Latin America.

India's "cultural, linguistic, agro-climatic and demographic plurality and its diverse movements" made the country an appropriate venue to conduct the meeting from January 16 to 21 2004, she said.

The Peace Boat will also dock in Mumbai port on the opening day of the WSF meet.

PTI