Wednesday, March 9 2005 12:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has asked the western countries, particularly Britain, to lift adverse travel advisories for their nationals, particularly in light of the improved political situation in the State.

Such advisories had lost their relevance and were proving a hindrance to free-flow of visitors to the State from these countries, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told a British High Commission delegation from New Delhi, led by first secretary (political) Sarah Lampert in Jammu yesterday (Mar 8, 2005).

The UK could take a lead in this direction, given the historic relations between Britain and India, Sayeed said.

Kashmir had witnessed a brisk tourist inflow last season and the people welcomed this development, he informed Lampert.

The recent civic polls and the high turnout of women in them had "amply exhibited the people's faith in democracy, good governance and yearning for peace", he said.

Lampert assured the Chief Minister that she would take his comments up line when the policy would come up for review shortly.

She enquired about the response of the people towards the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and the Chief Minister informed her that it was "overwhelming", particularly among the "divided families".

The rush for getting boarding forms demonstrated the enthusiasm of the people to see their relatives on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) after 58 years, he added.