Interlocutors Disappoint Kashmir Political Circles

Rameez Makhdoomi

Srinagar: Centre’s three interlocutors led by journalist Dileep Padgaonkar landed in Srinagar on their maiden visit some one and a half month back after they were appointed as mediators to settle Kashmir issue. But, after the passage of nearly forty five days of interlocution on Kashmir, the political circles are disappointed on what has been so far achieved by these interlocutors.

Umer Arshid Malik, a senior pro-freedom leader of Muslim League (Ghulam Abbas), while talking to this correspondent said, “Until the government of India accepts Kashmir as a disputed territory nothing concrete with relation to conflict resolution can happen. The government of India has always believed in time buying tactics and engaging in meaningless talks which have complicated the issues further”.

Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, senior leader of samajwadi party said, “The Government of India needs to be more serious in approach and win the hearts of youth to solve this issue and mere interlocution would not yield any positive outcome”.

It is worth mentioning here that the three member interlocutor penal was appointed in the wake of the crisis that led to the killing of 111 persons, mostly youth, since June 11. However, the appointment of interlocutors was not appreciated by the political parties including the unionists who were not happy with the absence of political face in the penal. Many of them expected parliamentarians to be nominated as interlocutors.