Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaching out to his Pakistani counterpart is a step in the right direction. Quoting former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that one can change one's friends but not neighbours. Mufti expressed hope that this will lead to a process of dialogue and reconciliation. Kashmir needs healing, she added.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the vice-chairperson of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) said, “PM Modi reaching out to his Pakistani counterpart is a step in the right direction. As Vajpayee ji famously said, one can change his friends but not neighbours. I hope this leads to a process of dialogue & reconciliation. Kashmir needs healing”.

She was reacting to PM Modi’s letter to Pakistan PM Imran Khan on the National Day of Pakistan.