Says initiative reflects a shared desire among prominent voices from both countries for peace and friendship 
Srinagar, 01 Jul: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq Wednesday welcomed the appeal by more than 100 eminent public figures from India and Pakistan urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif to restore bilateral dialogue and normal diplomatic engagement, including the reinstatement of High Commissioners, resumption of visa services and reopening of airspace.
Welcoming the initiative, Tanvir said the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has consistently stood for peace, dialogue and the normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. “Our leadership has, for decades, maintained that peace and prosperity in South Asia are inseparable from stable and constructive relations between India and Pakistan. Prolonged mistrust and the absence of engagement serve no strategic purpose. It is the people of the region, particularly those of Jammu and Kashmir, who bear the greatest cost of continued estrangement.”
He said sustained engagement between the two neighbours is indispensable for regional stability, economic cooperation and the collective progress of South Asia. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s early outreach to neighbouring countries, Sadiq said those initiatives had generated hope across the region. “Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on neighbourhood cooperation reflected a recognition that regional peace and development require political courage and diplomatic engagement. A revival of that spirit would be welcomed by all those who seek a stable and prosperous South Asia.”
Sadiq also noted that voices from diverse sections of Indian society, including those associated with the RSS, advocating renewed engagement with Pakistan reflect an evolving consensus that diplomacy remains the most effective instrument for managing bilateral relations.
At the same time, he underscored that meaningful engagement must be accompanied by credible confidence-building measures. “Pakistan must address the legitimate concerns consistently raised by the Government of India. It is incumbent upon Islamabad to create conditions that inspire confidence and make sustained engagement politically and diplomatically viable. Peace cannot rest on rhetoric alone; it must be reinforced by responsible conduct and mutual respect.”
Reiterating the National Conference’s long-held position, Sadiq said the party remains convinced that dialogue, diplomacy and political engagement are the only durable pathways to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
