Imran Khan rules out ‘Military’ solution to Kashmir Issue

Islamabad: Stating that ‘Military’ and ‘Militancy’ were the biggest hurdles in the Kashmir resolution, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Party Chief Imran Khan Tuesday said that all the stake holders to the dispute have to sacrifice something to reach any consensus. During his meeting with the visiting hurriyat delegation, the cricketer turned Politician said that if he came to Power in the next elections, his first priority in the foreign affairs would be to convince India for demilitarization, he however said that it was possible only when India gains confidence that there was no support to militancy and Violence in Kashmir from Pakistan. “We need to assure India that Pakistan will not support any kind of militant activity in Kashmir so that we can press for demilitarization.” Imran said to the delegation. He also asked Hurriyat to suggest as what should be the policy of the PTI viz a viz Kashmir. Imran said that there was no confusion that after the war of terror, the world approach has changed but insisted that Kashmir was not the territorial problem but a ‘rights’ issue.
Imran also addressed a joint Press Conference with Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Bilal Gani Lone and said that Kashmiris have suffered a lot and in the 20 year long battle the worst suffers were the Kashmiris who cannot afford more losses. “In the military- militancy conflict, Kashmiris have suffered the most.” Said Imran.
Mirwaiz on the occasion said that CBM’s must be initiated so that Kashmiris don’t feel alienated. “Why do you keep cross LOC symbolic. You must boost trade, people to people contact and other confidence building measures so that people of the Kashmir and Pakistan come closer.” Said Mirwaiz . In reply to a question, Mirwaiz said that India has been trying its best to muzzle the voice of Kashmiris by military might for last 20 years but failed miserably.
Meanwhile sources told that Hurriyat delegation told PTI leaders that only APHC was the relevant political forum which represented the aspirations of the Kashmirs. “We seek a permanent resolution of dispute and there is unanimity among all sections of Kashmiris on this.” Said hurriyat delegation, adding that Kashmiris were not with violence. “We have lost one lakh people. Our houses were raised to ruble, and we lost our honor as well. But now we don’t want lose anything more.” The delegation said, adding the dialogue must be carried forward seriously.
Meanwhile Hurriyat delegation earlier met with Kashmir Committee headed by Molauna Fazulur Rehman. Sources said that during the more than 4 hour long meeting, Kashmir Committee emphasized on the need to engage APHC in dialogue process to make a headway. All the delegation members including Bilal Gani Lone, Prof. Ab. Gani Bhat, Syed Aga Hassan, Moulana Abbas Ansari, Syed Aga Hassan, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Musadiq Aadil.