Srinagar: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcoming the announcement to open the Sharda Peeth Corridor, expressed that he is hoping that Government of Pakistan (GoP) will also open other routes to facilitate increased people to people contact.
On Monday, Pakistan Government approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth. Omar Abdullah, the vice-president of the National Conference said that the government in Pakistan will also be announcing the reopening of Kargil-Skardu road in Ladakh region.
Mr Abdullah is all praises for the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for opening-up Sharda Peeth that has been held up for years. He also said that he is hopeful about resumption of a dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Taking to micro blogging site twitter, Mr Abdullah said, “Sharda Peeth is an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It's good to see @ImranKhanPTI take decisions that have been held up for years. Allowing greater people to people contact & opening routes to religious pilgrims are always welcome developments that help to ease tensions.”
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In another tweet, Mr Abdullah stated, “One can only hope that in a post May 23rd (when results of Lok Sabha polls are announced), these steps will be reciprocated by the central government & we can move towards resuming the comprehensive dialogue between India & Pakistan (sic).”
After Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the Sharda Peeth corridor is the second religious tract that will connect the two neighbouring nations. Sharda Peeth is one of the three famous holy sites for Kashmiri Pandits. The other two sites are the Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag and the Amarnath temple in south Kashmir Himalayas.