Thursday, March 17 2005 09:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir is for the first time in international focus "for reasons of peace" and not war since the Prime Minister's decision to open the road between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said yesterday (Mar 16, 2005).

There was complete consensus at the State and National levels and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement showed the confidence the whole country had reposed in the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Sayeed said during a discussion in the Legislative Council.

The Chief Minister said JK had been "a bone of contention between India and Pakistan in the past but not anymore. It is for the first time now that the state is in international focus for the reasons of peace".

The two South Asian neighbours have fought three wars over Kashmir, but today it has emerged as a means to bring them closer, he said adding that the people's determination for peace had led to the "turnaround and reconciliation" in the sub-continent.

He underscored the need to take this process forward with the same determination.