Sunday, April 16 2006 10:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Karan Singh yesterday (Apr 15, 2006) said to solve the Kashmir issue there is a need to involve people of all five regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit and Baltistan.

"We should also have to know and respect aspirations of the people, the part of which is illegally occupied by Pakistan, for arriving at a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir problem," he said at a function after unveiling statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh in the premises of government hospital here.

It was valour, bravery, grit, undaunted courage and determination of the Dogras that led to extending boundaries of the state even beyond Ladakh, he said, adding Maharaja Gulab Singh founded the state in 1840 and his successor Maharajas nurtured it.

Singh said the area of undivided Jammu and Kashmir state at the time of Maharaja Gulab Singh and successive rulers was spread over 84000 square kilometres, which now has squeezed to about 42000 kms. A large chunk of the state has gone to China.