We welcome Indo-Pak peace talks as we are the victims of hostilities between the countries: J&K govt

Jammu:  Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday welcomed the resumption of Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan saying the peace process is quite significant for the state. The State cabinet met under the chairperson-ship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here. “The State cabinet welcomes the resumption of foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan and the lead role played by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in carrying forward the peace process, which has significance for the whole region specifically for Jammu and Kashmir, which has been the main victim of hostilities”, Education Minister and state government spokesperson Naeem Akhtar told reporters here. “We look forward to sustained effort to bring peace in the region and J&K in particular,” he said. Replying to a question whether Pakistan should investigate the Pathankot terror attack and cooperate with India, Akhtar said, “Who denies that?… we do not deny that.. Both countries have to do it.” The Cabinet also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to revive the peace process in the region. “The Cabinet observed that while peace process between India and Pakistan is of great significance for the whole South Asian region, it has the greatest impact on Jammu and Kashmir which faces the maximum brunt because of Indo-Pak hostilities,” Akhtar said. [caption id=“attachment_2753530” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] He said the Cabinet authorised the Department of Industries and Commerce to work out the modalities for establishing banking facilities for cross-LoC trade. “This follows the go-ahead from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to institutionalise the cross-LoC trade through a proper banking mechanism and doing away with the present barter system,” he said. Akhtar, who is also the state government spokesman, said the Cabinet gave its nod to develop tourism infrastructure at selected border points in Jammu and Kashmir for promotion of border tourism. “To begin with the government has decided to develop tourism infrastructure at Suchetgarh and Chamlyal in Jammu region,” he said. Akhtar said the Cabinet approved setting up of an Aadhaar-based mechanism for ascertaining the actual number of persons who have been temporarily engaged in various departments between 2009 and 2014 and their skill levels. In another important decision, he said, the Cabinet also approved a road map for implementation of the interest subvention scheme for flood-hit traders under PM’s Special Package. The identified flood-affected traders would get five per cent interest subsidy on the loans availed from banks during the next four years with a slab of Rs 5 lakh loan amount. The Minister said the cabinet also approved enhancement of the honorarium of village numberdars and chowkidars. Honorarium of numberdars has been enhanced to Rs 1,501 from Rs 751 and that of Chowkidar to Rs 1,500 from Rs 750. The Cabinet, he said, also approved reorganisation of the state’s Planning and Development Department to properly channelise the development funds and ensure its gainful utilisation. He said the P&D Department will have five divisions ─ Development Strategy Division, Project Formulation Division, Area Planning Division, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division and Coordination Division. The minister said the Cabinet approved bringing KPS service under the ambit of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, formed for cadre review and other related issues of KAS. The Cabinet also approved induction of officers from various feeding services into KAS.