Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday asked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to open all the routes, connecting the two parts of Kashmir, for greater people to people contact.
Omar said that the opening of Sharda Peeth corridor is a welcome step.
“After the welcome announcement to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims by @ImranKhanPTI we hope the government in Pakistan will only announce the Kargil-Skardu road as also other routes to facilitate greater people to people contact (sic),” Omar said in a tweet.
According to a media reports, the Pakistan government on Monday approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth.
Omar also praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for opening-up Sharda Peeth that has been held up for years.
“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,” Omar said in a series of tweets.
The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-administered territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.
Omar also hoped that the dialogue between India and Pakistan would resume soon.
“One can only hope that in a post May 23rd India these steps will be reciprocated by the central government & we can move towards resuming the comprehensive dialogue between India & Pakistan (sic),” Omar said in another tweet.
Sharda Peeth is also one of the three famous holy sites for Kashmiri Pandits, the other two being the Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag and the Amarnath temple.
