Jammu, Aug 29 (IANS): Mehbooba Mufti, president of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, Friday appealed the central government to start defence minister level talks with Pakistan.

Addressing a media conference here, Mufti said: "The union government should start mature, meaningful defence minister level talks with Pakistan to carry forward the agenda of peace and progress between the two neighbouring counties."

She asked the BJP government at the Centre to rise above party politics and carry forward former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's agenda for peace by taking confidence building measures like bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

She said she was "disappointed" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not working on the lines of Vajpayee's agenda. "I am disappointed," she said.

The president of the state's largest opposition party asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not to play politics when it comes to a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir.