NISAR AHMED THOKAR
iSLAMABAD Dec 16:Terming Kashmir as a trilateral problem, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that it was high time that India and Pakistan should evolve a mechanism whereby Kashmiris could be associated with the ongoing dialogue process as a principal party.
Talking to Greater Kashmir on his arrival in Islamabad on late Saturday night, Mirwaiz said that dialogue process between the two countries can’t yield desired results without acknowledging the centrality of Kashmiris and the Kashmir problem. In the changing scenario, he said, “We have seen India and Pakistan are moving forward, however, we believe that Kashmiris have to be part of it as the dialogue process between the two countries without Kashmiris is incomplete”.
“Hurriyat believes that India and Pakistan can’t move much beyond a certain point unless Kashmir is on the agenda of dialogue process. Just talking trade and culture and forgetting the important issue of Kashmir, I think, won’t really help the two countries to move much ahead”, he said.
Referring to the changing world scenario, he said, “We have seen quite promising developments around the world, Palestine, Arab Spring and you know the world is acknowledging the fact that genuine movements can’t be suppressed through force, intimidation or through repressive measures”.
Regarding Hurriyat’s Pak sojourn, Mirwaiz said: “The basic objective of our visit here is to meet people, talk to political parties, political leaders and interact with them so that a broader consensus on the issue of Kashmir could be forged through a process of meaningful discussions and interactions.”
Bearing in mind the fact that every political party of Pakistan has a manifesto vis-à-vis Kashmir, Mirwaiz said, “I think it is important that we will be talking to people and listening to their ideas and sharing our views with them at this very stage when general elections in the country were around the corner”.
“Kashmir is a complex issue, we can’t have over-night solution and neither have we expected that a solution will come out by this visit. It is after five long years Hurriyat has come to Pakistan in a completely new and different scenario and such interactions and engagements I believe would help to create an enabling atmosphere of mutual-understanding,” he added.
“This is actually a process of interaction; I think it is very important so far as Kashmir is concerned”, he said. “Pakistan has always supported Kashmir cause and our right to self determination but we believe that it is high time that Kashmiris and Pakistani leadership have to be on the same page in terms of how to deal with the emerging situation”.
Asked whether Hurriyat intends to hold talks with government of India, Mirwaiz said: “Definitely the ball is in Indian court, we have time and again been saying this that Kashmir is not a bilateral issue rather it is a trilateral problem between three parties (Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir).
For that matter, he said that in 2007 Hurriyat had suggested the government of India to initiate confidence building measures to create a congenial and conducive atmosphere on ground.”
iSLAMABAD Dec 16:Terming Kashmir as a trilateral problem, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that it was high time that India and Pakistan should evolve a mechanism whereby Kashmiris could be associated with the ongoing dialogue process as a principal party.
Talking to Greater Kashmir on his arrival in Islamabad on late Saturday night, Mirwaiz said that dialogue process between the two countries can’t yield desired results without acknowledging the centrality of Kashmiris and the Kashmir problem. In the changing scenario, he said, “We have seen India and Pakistan are moving forward, however, we believe that Kashmiris have to be part of it as the dialogue process between the two countries without Kashmiris is incomplete”.
“Hurriyat believes that India and Pakistan can’t move much beyond a certain point unless Kashmir is on the agenda of dialogue process. Just talking trade and culture and forgetting the important issue of Kashmir, I think, won’t really help the two countries to move much ahead”, he said.
Referring to the changing world scenario, he said, “We have seen quite promising developments around the world, Palestine, Arab Spring and you know the world is acknowledging the fact that genuine movements can’t be suppressed through force, intimidation or through repressive measures”.
Regarding Hurriyat’s Pak sojourn, Mirwaiz said: “The basic objective of our visit here is to meet people, talk to political parties, political leaders and interact with them so that a broader consensus on the issue of Kashmir could be forged through a process of meaningful discussions and interactions.”
Bearing in mind the fact that every political party of Pakistan has a manifesto vis-à-vis Kashmir, Mirwaiz said, “I think it is important that we will be talking to people and listening to their ideas and sharing our views with them at this very stage when general elections in the country were around the corner”.
“Kashmir is a complex issue, we can’t have over-night solution and neither have we expected that a solution will come out by this visit. It is after five long years Hurriyat has come to Pakistan in a completely new and different scenario and such interactions and engagements I believe would help to create an enabling atmosphere of mutual-understanding,” he added.
“This is actually a process of interaction; I think it is very important so far as Kashmir is concerned”, he said. “Pakistan has always supported Kashmir cause and our right to self determination but we believe that it is high time that Kashmiris and Pakistani leadership have to be on the same page in terms of how to deal with the emerging situation”.
Asked whether Hurriyat intends to hold talks with government of India, Mirwaiz said: “Definitely the ball is in Indian court, we have time and again been saying this that Kashmir is not a bilateral issue rather it is a trilateral problem between three parties (Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir).
For that matter, he said that in 2007 Hurriyat had suggested the government of India to initiate confidence building measures to create a congenial and conducive atmosphere on ground.”
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