Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today (Feb 11, 2004) renewed his appeal to militants in the State to lay down their arms.

"In the changed scenario, it does not look nice for youths to carry guns on their shoulders," the Chief Minister said at a function.

The militants should lay down their arms and avail of the benefits for surrendered ultras announced recently by the State Government, he said.

The militants can visit their houses, meet their kin and lead a normal life and help the ongoing peace process to reach its logical conclusion, Mufti said.

The Chief Minister said that people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) had expressed a desire to visit Kashmir as tourists.

Mufti said that people of Mirpur and other areas of PoK met him in Saudi Arabia and enquired when the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road would be reopened.

He said he told them that they were welcome here as tourists, adding, "We are eager to reopen road links so that members of divided families can meet."

Apparently referring to the killing of five villagers in Bandipora on Feb 9, Mufti said notwithstanding excesses still being committed, the peace process would continue as India and Pakistan were committed to carry it forward.