Cutting across the political divide in J&K, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today demanded that India and Pakistan take up joint relief operations in the two parts of Kashmir.Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yaseen Malik also announced plans to go to Pakistan on Monday for relief work. ‘‘Muzaffarabad has become a graveyard. People there had showered us with affection when we last visited the city,’’ Malik said, appealing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to let him go across on humanitarian grounds.Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed said joint Indo-Pak relief operations would be of great help. ‘‘I am happy that Pakistan has shown a positive response to India’s offer of relief. There should be a joint relief operation to help people,’’ he said, pointing out that the Prime Minister had offered Pakistan the help of Indian Army in reaching some inaccessible areas of PoK.The Mirwaiz too said that the tragedy should ‘‘make the two countries work together and help thousands affected on either side of the LoC.’’ Nature, he said, did not recognise the LoC: ‘‘If India and Pakistan jointly launch rescue and relief operations, it will give peace efforts a big boost.’’
