J&K can become gateway between Central and South Asia: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, July 1
Drawing parallels between the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday that J&K could become a gateway between Central Asia and South Asia.
Commenting on more than 100 prominent signatories from India and Pakistan writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that the situation in the world is changing.
She pointed out how a small country like Iran used its strategic position, the Strait of Hormuz, to put pressure on a powerful country like the US, adding that Jammu and Kashmir also has a strategic geographical position.
She said that just as Iran has the Strait of Hormuz, India has Jammu and Kashmir, which can become the gateway to Central Asia and South Asia.
She added that these routes should be opened and this strategic advantage should be utilised. For that, she said, it is essential that relations with China improve and that ties with Pakistan also improve.
This, she stated, would completely transform Jammu and Kashmir, bringing economic, political, and emotional change to the region.
Mehbooba and her late father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who founded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in J&K, have been votaries of de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan as the only means to bring in permanent peace to J&K.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) is a regional political party in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The PDP was headed and founded by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
His daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, succeeded him as party leader and as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir following his death in January 2016.
The party was a member of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration electoral alliance.
During the heyday of Mufti Sayeed's political campaign that brought the PDP to power in 2014, the popular slogan was 'Goli Se Nahin, Boli Se' (Not through guns, peace can only come through dialogue).
— IANS
Reader Comments
Mehboobaji's vision of J&K as a trade gateway is actually quite forward-thinking. Look at how Dubai transformed itself with strategic positioning. If we can ease tensions with Pakistan and China, it could bring jobs and prosperity to the valley. But India's security concerns are valid too — it's a delicate balance. 🇮🇳
Respectfully, this sounds like wishful thinking. Pakistan hasn't shown genuine intent for peace — cross-border terrorism continues. Opening routes without addressing infiltration and radicalization would be naive. Let's first build trust through concrete actions, not just statements. The slogan 'Boli Se' is nice, but actions speak louder.
I appreciate the optimism, but comparing J&K to Iran's Strait of Hormuz overlooks the fact that Iran's leverage comes from being a sovereign nation controlling a global chokepoint. J&K's strategic value is different — it's about connecting Central Asia's energy resources to South Asian markets. That could actually benefit India's energy security if managed properly. 🌏
As someone who visited Kashmir last year, I can see potential. But the security situation is still fragile — armed forces everywhere. The local economy could boom if trade routes open, but that requires political stability. Mehbooba Mufti has a point, but it's a long-term vision, not something feasible overnight.
Ye toh bahut interesting angle hai! J&K as a trade hub instead of just a conflict zone — imagine the economic transformation. But bhai, pehle Pakistan ko terrorism band karna padega. Tabhi kuch hoga. Otherwise
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.