SRINAGAR: The unity efforts in the liberation camp got a shot in the arm when Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for the second time met United Jehad Council (UJC) chief and Supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin to discuss Kashmir issue and other matters of mutual interests. The Hurriyat delegates also had a meeting with Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami, leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Mirwaiz told Greater Kashmir that it was for the first time that he met with Jamaat-e-Islami chief. “It is good that we exchanged ideas although they have their own stance but I think it is not necessary that we should agree on every thing but important thing is that there should be continuous consultation process between Kashmiri leadership and the political leaders of Pakistan,” he said.

About meeting with Salahuddin, Mirwaiz said, “Yes we met and we had a very healthy discussion, I think he is very appreciative with regard to unity efforts, I personally believe that there has to be a consensus between different thoughts so far as Kashmir issue is concerned.“For a long time I have been saying that Kashmir struggle is being fought at different levels, political, diplomatic and military and if we have to move forward we have to adopt a joint strategy in terms of addressing the issue, however, this is our priority to address the issue through dialogue and deliberations but it can not be a one way traffic it has to be reciprocated from the other side too,” he said.

He said the main issue that came under the discussion was that both of them were of the view that all the pro-movement forces should come together and they should evolve a joint strategy to address the Kashmir issue. “I told UJC chief that my efforts will continue in this direction and all well-wishers of Kashmir and the well-wishers of the movement should also play a role and contribute equally in this regard,” he said.

“We all have to move positively, he has given me full assurance that his support is with the movement and the efforts we have undertaken recently, we also agreed to carry forward the consultation process,” Mirwaiz said. Regarding his meeting with Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, Mirwaiz said, “We had a detailed meeting with President Musharraf wherein he reiterated his full support to Kashmir cause.”

He said that APHC has always appreciated Musharraf’s approach vis-à-vis the issue and he has reiterated commitment that his primary concern is Kashmir and Kashmiris. Regarding his meetings with other leaders, he said there is a complete unanimity and their priority is to resolve the Kashmir issue. “The focus is what Kashmiris can get out of this peace process, I think this is very positive sign.”

Stressing the need for holding tripartite talks to resolve Kashmir dispute amicably by involving Kashmiri leadership in the process, Mirwaiz said the decade’s long history of the subcontinent is witness to the fact that bilateralism has failed to yield positive results so far as the solution of long-running Kashmir dispute is concerned.“APHC believes that there are three parties to the dispute, unless and until all the stakeholders to the dispute get involved in a structured and result-oriented dialogue process there can be no forward movement with regard to the settlement of the issue.”

He said, “Regarding Kashmir, bilateralism has totally failed, even though there had been bilateral pacts like Tashkent, Simila and Lahore between India and Pakistan but despite all these agreements the two countries could not resolve this dispute.”Terming Kashmiris as the principle party to the dispute, he said that the APHC has time and again made it clear that without the inclusion of Kashmiris the ongoing dialogue process can not produce fruitful results.

He said, “We feel that the government of India is trying to maintain status quo in Kashmir thereby converting line of control into permanent border but let me make clear that APHC categorically rejects this approach.“Kashmiri people will thwart such conspiracies and will never allow such a thing to happen in the region,” he added. He said that so far as the peace talks and the resolution of Kashmir dispute is concerned, one sided affair is not going to work out at all. “Reciprocity is important in order to address the issue,” he said.

About the Hurriyat delegates’ meetings with Pakistani leadership, he said that during the meetings he raised the issue of the recently revealed mass graves, cultural invasion, transfer of hundreds of kanals of land to Shri Amar Nath Shrine Board and other non-state subjects. He said they have also discussed the issue of human rights violations and massive troops’ concentration in Kashmir.

Regarding the impact of peace process in Kashmir, he said they have conveyed the Kashmir peoples’ concerns to the Pakistani leaders that there has been no change whatsoever on ground. Replying to a query he said, “We are happy to note that after taking charge of the country the incumbent government has given priority to Kashmir issue besides extending official invitation to Hurriyat Conference.”

Mirwaiz said that Pakistani nation has always supported Kashmir cause and the people of Kashmir are highly indebted for their political, moral and diplomatic support to get the issue resolved in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations. So far as the Pakistan’s Kashmir policy is concerned he, however, said that the APHC wants a broad-based national consensus on the issue.-SANA

About Rubab Saleem

Rubab Saleem has written 2672 articles on this journal.

Rubab Saleem is Editor of Pakistan Times

• View all posts by Rubab Saleem →
• Blog

Popularity: 1% [?]