The Hindu : Resume dialogue, says Ansari

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 26, 2003

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National

Resume dialogue, says Ansari

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR Nov. 25. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) headed by Moulvi Abbas Ansari has hailed Pakistan's ceasefire announcement and India's response to it, but insisted that the countries should resume the dialogue to find a solution to the Kashmir problem.

"It is a positive development and we welcome it," Mr. Ansari said, adding, "We have always held the view that a conducive atmosphere between these two neighbours could change the hostile situation."

He said the Pakistan Premier, Mir Zaffarullah Khan Jamali's ceasefire offer was a vindication of his stand. "Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds maimed on both sides of the LoC due to the shelling since 1947'' he said. Since India had also responded positively, it was a good beginning but it had to be followed by a composite dialogue.

Mr. Ansari said for the people of Kashmir also it was a welcome development as they were the worst sufferers of the standoff. To a question on a ceasefire between the security forces and militants in the State, he said, "Once the dialogue starts this will happen as the parties would understand that a serious effort is being made to resolve the issue."

The other faction of the Hurriyat headed by Syed Ali Geelani reacted guardedly to the ceasefire offer saying the Kashmir issue was the basic reason for all the problems in the sub-continent: "We feel that bloodshed on the LoC should stop. But at the same time the leaders should realise that the Kashmir issue is the basic cause for the border skirmishes.''

``We have seen that ceasefires have taken place in the past, but they have hardly solved any problem because if one stopped shelling another was starting it," Mr. Geelani said.

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