'US-based Kashmiris keen to invest in AJK and Northern Areas'

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Saturday said that Kashmiri community based in United States will invest in different development projects in Kashmir and Northern Areas of Pakistan. He said this on reaching Islamabad after two-week official visit to US along with the elected members of Kashmir Council.
The minister said that he held a number of meetings with the Kashmiri community living in the US, where they enthusiastically showed their interest to invest in tourism, mining, and hydropower and health sectors.
Talking about the purpose of his visit, Faisal said that he had two main objectives; first to clarify the misunderstandings about the ongoing Pak-India talks process and to motivate the well-off Kashmiris and Pakistanis to invest in AJK and NAs, where there is a vast potential for development.
He said during his visit, he clarified that Pakistan has not taken any step, which could hurt the interest of the Kashmiris and assured their involvement as third party in the dialogue process.
Besides, these people were also informed that due to the prolonged tension in the area, Kashmiris are in dire need of economic empowerment, the minister.
He said due to the initiation of peace process, most of the well to do parties are interested in setting up their business in Kashmir and added that the overseas Kashmiris are keenly interested in resolving the conflicting issues to bring socio-economic prosperity in the area, Faisal added.
The minister said that he also visited a number of US policy-making institutions and informed them about the Pakistan's role in the war on terrorism.
He pointed out that US have spent almost $150 billion on war on terror, which has given nothing except further flaming terrorism activities in the world.
The Kashmir Affairs minister said that he told the policy makers in the US that to overcome the growing extremism and terrorism, the West has to bring changes in its policies.
Faisal said that West also has realised the importance of Kashmir issue to bring a sustainable peace in the South Asian.