ISLAMABAD, July 19: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has lauded Ambassador McDonald, head of Multi-Track Diplomatic Institute in Washington, for floating the idea of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service which proved a great success. The minister, during a visit to the institute, told Mr McDonald that the bus service proved to be a major breakthrough in the ongoing process to find some resolution of the Kashmir issue, says a statement issued here by the Kashmir Affairs Ministry.

He said the research done by the institute would have far reaching impact on world politics.

He said Ambassador McDonald had a deep interest in South Asian affairs and was committed to bringing a positive change in the geo-politics of the region.

During the meeting, the ambassador told the minister and his delegation that today’s politics was working under the command of economics which had a major role in all issues concerning the people and the governments.

Mr Hayat said the start of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, on one hand, enabled the people divided by the Line of Control to meet each other, and on the other, contributed towards the establishment of permanent peace in the region.

He said the visit of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders to Azad Kashmir and Pakistan also became possible because of the bus service.

Ambassador McDonald briefed the minister and his delegation on the working of his institute.

Narrating how he conceived the idea of the bus service, he said it was an old route and many bus drivers in Muzaffarabad had still not given up displaying Srinagar’s name as a destination on their buses.

He said the Indian held Kashmir had natural links with Pakistan such as river and road. He said the people on both sides of the LoC had a great desire to visit each other. That’s how, he said, he came up with the bus service idea.

Later, the minister visited various sections of the institute.

The minister’s delegation comprises Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas parliamentary secretary Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf and AJK Council member Mohammad Matloob Inkalabi.

Meanwhile, the minister and his delegation visited the Library of Congress in Washington.

The minister took special interest in the congressional research unit of the library and asked a number of questions. He was told that research was being done on most modern lines to facilitate the members and visitors of the library.

The minister was impressed by the library’s collection on Pakistan and Kashmir and appreciated the work being done by the organizers.