The Hindu : International / India & World : No problem over visit by Hurriyat leaders: Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

International

International - India & World

No problem over visit by Hurriyat leaders: Pakistan

B. Muralidhar Reddy

We are disappointed by Geelani's decision

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday maintained that the proposed visit of Hurriyat leaders to Islamabad via Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) did not pose any ``problems''. The Hurriyat delegation arriving by the June 2 by the Muzafarrabad-Srinagar bus would visit various parts of Pakistan for consultations with all sections of government and society.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Jalil Abbas Jilani, told the press here that Pakistan did not anticipate any difficulty in the travel despite India's objections.

He was responding to a question on the statements in India on the ``propriety'' of inviting the Hurriyat leaders when the bus pact between India and Pakistan clearly envisaged that the passengers could only travel within the territory of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Jilani downplayed the hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's decision to decline the invitation to visit Pakistan and said his move was not a reflection on Pakistan's Kashmir policy. "It is a personal decision arising out of the situation created by India. We are disappointed. His visit would have advanced the cause of peace."

``We hoped that the entire leadership would have visited and interacted with Pakistani leadership and leaders of Azad Kashmir, as Kashmiris are an important part of the process,'' Mr. Jilani said.

Asked if visit by one Hurriyat faction would not widen the rift in the organisation and whether acceptance of the invitation by one faction meant official recognition to it by Pakistan, the spokesman said that the entire Hurriyat leadership is ``very well respected'' in Pakistan. ``We do not make any discrimination,'' he said and added that the invitation for Mr. Gilani was always there.

In response to another question, Mr. Jilani denied that President Musharraf had made any remarks on autonomy or semi-autonomy to any part of Kashmir. He was responding to reports in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had welcomed the remarks attributed to Gen. Musharraf on autonomy to a part of Kashmir.

Mr. Jilani said Pakistan's quest was to seek a lasting solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and in this context the President made certain remarks. These included un-acceptability of a solution based on the Line of Control, respect to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, resolution of the dispute which is acceptable to all the stakeholders including Pakistan, India and Kashmir, de-militarisation which was a prerequisite for extending the right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and was inherent in the U.N. resolutions and empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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No problem over visit by Hurriyat leaders: Pakistan