MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 16: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Friday asked India to positively respond to President Pervez Musharraf’s call for reduction in troop deployment in held Kashmir. The cabinet, which met under AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayyat Khan, rejected the allegation of infiltration into held Kashmir made by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Deploring the allegation, the cabinet said in a resolution the Indian claim was contrary to the ground realities. It added the Indian government should not waste the opportunity that now existed for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The cabinet reaffirmed that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved according to the UN resolutions and in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

The meeting expressed satisfaction over law and order situation in Azad Kashmir and directed the administration to ensure law and order during the forthcoming by-elections in the state. —-APP