Islamabad, January 20
In significant remarks, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has called for an end to armed struggle to resolve the Kashmir issue as it has only created “more graveyards” and said the dialogue process should be given a chance.
Mirwaiz, who is heading a three-member Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan, said, “The dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir issue should be given a chance as efforts through military means have not achieved any results except creating more graveyards”.
Mirwaiz said it was time for the militant groups to consider giving up the violent movement in Kashmir. “The Mujahideen groups should support the dialogue process for durable peace in the region.”
He said, “It was crystal clear that there could no military solution and the only feasible way for durable peace in the region was to bolster the peace process”.
“Any military conflict will be disastrous for the region as both Pakistan and India were nuclear powers and the focus should therefore be on continuing the dialogue process,” he said.
With the new strategy, Hurriyat would convince India to arrive at a more agreeable settlement, he said last night at a dinner hosted by PoK Prime Minister Attique Khan. The delegation also met President Pervez Musharraf.
Observing that peaceful negotiations were the only way out, he criticised the hardline Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which is opposed to the dialogue process. “Some people involved in the struggle could still have some reservations but as far as the All Parties Hurriyat Conference is concerned we are not prepared to sacrifice any more of our loved ones,” he said.
President Musharraf had during meeting with the delegation said elements hostile to the peace process, who attempted to create misunderstandings on Pakistan’s stand should be strongly countered and rejected.
The leadership from both parts of Kashmir agreed on setting up working groups to enhance mutual interaction as part of the intra-Kashmir dialogue aimed at resolution of the Kashmir issue.
— PTI
