Thursday, September 22 2005 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The three-day 'Heart to Heart' conference of leaders from both sides of Kashmir valley ended here today (Sept 22, 2005) with an appeal to all concerned to avoid all types of violence as it is detrimental to peace and stability in the region.

The former President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) Sardar Abdul Qayyum made it amply clear that the appeal had nothing to do with terrorism but was about the violence in general in both sides of Kashmir.

Qayyum, who heads the Muslim Conference, read out the 16-point conclusion of the conference.

Expressing deep satisfaction over the first ever-historic meeting of leaders from across the Line of Control (LoC), the delegates were eagerly looking forward to subsequent meetings in the "Hope and expectations of helping the ongoing peace process," he said.

"We earnestly hope that this forum will be broadened to forge a consensus for further Confidence Building Measures which includes opening up of at least six bus routes between the two parts of Kashmir," Qayyum said.

"We urge all concerned to avoid all types of violence as it is detrimental to peace and stablity in region," he said and added that the two sides also recommend to both the Governments to consider reduction of troops and para-military forces on both sides.

This was the issue on which the joint conclusions were delayed by a day as PoK delegates did not want any direct reference to condemnation of terrorism.

Qayyum said the conference also hoped that an Intra-Parliamentary Forum should be carved which would promote contacts between Parliamentarians on both sides.

On the people displaced from their hearths and homes 'we resolve to strive for rehabilitation of the displaced persons back to their places.'

Both India and Pakistan should rapidly increase the facilities of peoples' movement across the LoC to promote better understanding, which needs a drastic reduction in reduction of people's movement.

The delegates also arrived at a consensus that there should be a review of the detune cases and declaration of general amnesty to prisoners detained in each others country.

The joint statement of the leaders of two sides also suggested to India and Pakistan to develop a joint mechanism to address the social services in the state of Jammu and Kashmir as a whole, which includes extending necessary services during medical emergencies.

While acknowledging cooperation extended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in providing visa facilities, the delegates also recommended that trade relations and tourism be revived as soon as possible.

Asked whether he would be submitting the conclusions to the Pakistan Government, Qayyum said, "This is a public document and everyone can see it. We don't have to submit it."