The Hindu : News : Democracy in Pakistan will help resolve Kashmir issue: Sayeed

The Hindu : News : Democracy in Pakistan will help resolve Kashmir issue: Sayeed: "Welcoming the moves to restore full democracy in Pakistan, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) founder and the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on Saturday expressed hope that it would help create an atmosphere more conducive to the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

In a statement issued in Jammu, Mr. Sayeed said the changes sought through the constitutional package introduced in Pakistan's Parliament could strengthen democratic forces throughout South Asia, create a sobering effect, and help build bridges of understanding.

Mr. Sayeed said the rare unanimity witnessed among the political parties of Pakistan in arriving at the reform proposals should be seen as a positive development in the growth of democracy in the region. India has the highest stakes in this development which needs to be appreciated, he said.

Referring to the emergence of a strong civil society in Pakistan, Mr. Sayeed said it had performed creditably both against military dictatorship and terrorism. While various instruments of the state like the judiciary, the executive and the media will still take time to develop into a cohesive system, the process could be accelerated with help from Indian institutions, he added."