Geelani, Mirwaiz call for tripartite talks to resolve K-dispute

Srinagar: Asserting that the Kashmir dispute was not about employment or development, chairmen of both the Hurriyat factions, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday called for meaningful and result oriented tripartite talks to resolve the “political dispute”.

In separate interactions with a 11-member Indian delegation led by LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan, on Saturday, the pro-freedom leaders said that stressed need for talks between India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to settle the long-pending dispute.

“Kashmir is a 63 year old dispute and India is well aware of this fact even though the Indian public at large is unaware of the problem due to the misleading propaganda of Indian government and media. Indian home minister, P Chidambaram’s statement that Kashmir is an issue of (India’s) broken promises is a historical fact. Kashmiris want India  to fulfill promises made by Indian leaders especially Late Jawahar Nehru that the people of Kashmir cannot be forcefully kept with the country and would be allowed to decide their future,” Geelani told the parliamentary-civil society delegation that called on him at his Hyderpora residence today.

Terming the appointment of interlocutors a futile exercise, Geelani said talks of dialogue and “rhetoric of Kashmir being an integral part of India, arrest and harassment of youth and pro-freedom leadership cannot together.”

The octogenarian said the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved unless “New Delhi wholeheartedly accepts its disputed nature.”

He also reiterated his demands of troop withdrawal, repealing draconian laws, release of detained Kashmiris and punishment to members of government forces involved in the killing of 112 innocent youths during the past six months.

He said for achieving their right to self determination, lakhs of Kashmiris had sacrificed their lives while as ten thousand people had been disappeared by government forces. “Unfortunately, India under the craze of power and position has and continues to show indifference to the sacrifices. New Delhi cannot ignore the fact that now the fourth generation of Kashmiris is on the streets, denouncing the Indian occupation,” Geelani said.

The veteran leader said he was not against purposeful dialogue but “nothing is going to be achieved out of bilateral talks as they have proved to be futile in the past. “

Meanwhile, Chairman of the parallel Hurriyat faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq during his interaction with the delegation at his Nageen residence also reiterated that Kashmir was a political issue which needed to be resolved through tri-lateral talks.

Delaying resolution of Kashmir issue is neither in the interests of India or Pakistan nor the region. Sops and relaxations cannot resolve the issue, a political solution needs to be found which is acceptable to both  India and Pakistan and is in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people,” Mirwaiz told the delegation.

He said the Hurriyat (M) had already put forth its suggestions for improving the ground situation and had suggested the formation of a joint parliamentary group from India and Pakistan on the eve of the All-Party delegation’s visit to Kashmir.