Army learning Kashmiri to stay put in Kashmir: Geelani

Srinagar: Reacting to General Officer Commanding 15 Corps, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain’s statement that troops were learning Kashmiri language, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani Tuesday said India was trying to turn its armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir into “permanent residents of the state” through such endeavours. “India is working on many fronts to ensure the permanence of its armed forces in Kashmir. On one hand, troops are being assimilated into our culture while on the other hand the Army is constructing residential houses for its men on lakhs of kanals of land. Teaching troops Kashmiri is part of the same larger ploy,” Geelani said in a statement issued here to. Reiterating his demand of “complete demilitarization,” Geelani said Indo-Pak talks would be “futile” in the presence of Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir. “Even if India and Pakistan engage in talks till Qayamah(Judgement Day) finding a solution to the Kashmir issue will not only be difficult but impossible, until the Army withdraws from Kashmir. Those who are celebrating the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan ignore the statements of Army officers and Indian ministers that there would be no reduction of troops from Kashmir,” he said. Geelani said these “contradictory” statements were proof that the “so-called talks are exhibitory in nature and meant to deceive the international community.” “India has been staging this drama since 1947 , and had New Delhi’s policy makers brought any change in their deceptive and stubborn attitude , the revolutions of 2008, 2009 and 2010 would never have taken place,” he said. Geelani said the Kashmiri people particularly the young generation would never accept the “military occupation of India,” and New Delhi cannot hold Kashmir through “deceptive tactics” for too long in view of the changing international scenario.