Srinagar: Welcoming the recent statement of Delhi’s willingness to engage with Pakistan and the Hurriyat on Kashmir issue made by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said “a peaceful engagement is urgently needed to get J&K out of violence cycle.”

In a statement issued to the press by government’s information department, Mehbooba Mufti made an appeal to the Hurriyat “to display maturity and show responsibility towards people”.

Accepting the Hurriyat as a stakeholder, Mehbooba welcomed the remarks made by Rajnath Singh that “Centre is ready to talk to every stakeholder including Hurriyat Conference in Jammu & Kashmir if it comes to table.”

Mr. Singh had made these remarks in an interactive session with a Hindi television channel Aaj Tak in New Delhi today.

In a statement, Chief Minister said “it as a welcome step to initiate dialogue and reconciliation in the State.”

She added that “given the positive outcome from the ground on the Ramadhan ceasefire in the State, the peace constituency in the country and the State should feel encouraged to start the much needed process of peaceful engagement with all stakeholders in the State.”

Ms. Mufti hoped that “parties and groups like Hurriyat Conference will seize the opportunity and show their responsibility towards the people of the State by displaying the much needed maturity so that the opportunity is not wasted.”

She said “a peaceful engagement among all the stakeholders in the State is urgently needed to get Jammu & Kashmir out of the unending cycle of violence and provide its people, a secure, prosperous and peaceful future.”

She reiterated that “dialogue is the only way forward to resolve issues as violence has lost its relevance in the contemporary world besides taking a heavy toll of the people and the societies.”

She said that “even arch-rival nations like US and North Korea and South Korea and South Korea ultimately had to take to table to iron out their mutual issues.”