Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani Monday said India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues with China to prevent Western powers from “interfering†in south Asia region.Speaking at a conference organized by the Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee in Hyderabad, Geelani said resolving the Kashmir issue was in the interest of India as it would save millions of people from a life of poverty .Geelani said minorities are a “test case†for any country but India had “failed†to treat minorities in a fair and just way.He said Indian Muslims should use their votes effectively to create their “own political identity and protect their culture.â€â€œThey should unite and form a joint strategy,†Geelani said.
Geelani said, in order to engage India and Pakistan in a state of war, the British “created the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.â€â€œEven today the western powers in order to sell their weapons to the two countries are keen on keeping the issue unresolved . To end their interference in the region, India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues with China ,†Geelani said, adding that the core reason for animosity between India and Pakistan was Kashmir .
Geelani said the Kashmir should be understood in its “right historical perspective†and New Delhi should stop “misleading Indians about the issuer.†“ Indian Muslims are threatened of dire consequences if Kashmir attains independence . If India claims to be a secular and democratic country, then how can it hold the Kashmiri nation hostage for these Muslims who chose to be part of India ( at the time of partition),†Geelani said.
The Hurriyat leader said that New Delhi was projecting the Kashmir issue as an issue of cross border infiltration and Indian army as the savior of Kashmiri people.†However, contrary to this image being projected by India, her armed forces are violating the human rights of Kashmiris under draconian and black laws,†he said.
