‘AJK University’ invites Geelani to 2-day conference on Kashmir

Srinagar: ‘University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ has invited Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to attend a two-day international conference— “Kashmir in Emerging Global Perspectives”— to be held in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir, from 23-24 May.    As per the organizers, the major objective of the conference is to provide a platform to researchers and scholars to share their views and ideas on Kashmir in the emerging global scenario, particularly “in the backdrop of a renewed Kashmiri quest for their rights.” The conference covers a wide range of themes including fresh perspectives on the vexed Kashmir issue, its socio-economic impact on the region, effectiveness of CBMs, human rights situation, etc, the organizers said. The invitation letter to Syed Ali Geelani reads: “In view of your high standing in the intellectual and scholastic domain, you have been identified as an eminently placed resource person whose participation at the conference holds key to promoting the scholastic discourse on Kashmir and thus achieving the conference goals. Your participation becomes all the more important given the fact that scholars or writers from across the globe are likely to make their input at this unique scholarly endeavor.” Meanwhile, the octogenarian leader has expressed his inability to participate in the scheduled conference due to non-availability of travel documents. A spokesman of amalgam told that Geelani was provided passport in 2006 for treatment abroad. “The passport was valid for a year only and since then there has been no extension in its validity period.”The spokesman said that Geelani has thanked the organizers for inviting him to the conference and providing him with an opportunity to visit Muzaffarabad. The spokesman said that veteran leader has extended his best wishes to the organizers for success of the conference. Geelani also hoped that the conference will prove an important step towards the resolution of Kashmir issue.