‘Kashmir issue should be solved once and for all’

SRINAGAR, March 21: In occupied Kashmir, students of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries have urged the leaders of the SAARC region to come on common platform and resolve the Kashmir dispute.
The nine students hailing from SAARC countries who completed their post graduation from Kashmir University, talking to media in Srinagar said, “We don’t want to see South Asia as a trouble part. It should be peaceful, stable and prosperous region through regional connectivity and increased cooperation in trade, energy, security and infrastructure. For that Kashmir issue should be solved once and for all.”They pledged to become ambassadors of peace for Jammu and Kashmir and change the negative image created by propagandist Indian media.
The students said they were heading back to their native countries with good memories of Kashmir and consider the paradise land as their second home. The natives of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan shared the experiences of their stay in Valley during the interview and said they would be “ambassadors of Kashmir in their countries.”
“We lived in Kashmir as a family and made great friends among locals. This also gave me an opportunity to know Kashmir and its people very closely which changed my negative perception about the region. I am going to miss this place as I see it as my second home now,” said Subarna Dhar of Bangladesh. Another pass-out Indu Dhundgana of Nepal expressed similar views saying she explored Kashmir beyond conflict in two years. “People have opened their hearts to us and made us feel like home. Earlier, I was told by my relatives and friends that Kashmir is not a good place to live as media was showing them such picture. However, I am lucky to come here because I have learnt many things from the region and its people,” she said.-Agencies