The Hindu : Front Page : "No solution possible without the involvement of Kashmiris"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 03, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

"No solution possible without the involvement of Kashmiris"

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Hurriyat delegation arrives in Muzaffarabad to warm welcome

MUZAFFARABAD: Leaders of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat arrived here on Thursday night to a warm welcome by leaders of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. Soon after setting foot on Pakistan-controlled soil, they expressed support for the India-Pakistan dialogue, on condition that it should lead to a trilateral process in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The officialdom, with the entire political class of the PoK and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chaudhary Shujat Hussain, turned up at the Peace Bridge to welcome the Kashmiri leaders.

At a crowded news conference, the leader of the delegation, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, made it clear that though it was touched by the welcome, it had no reason to be overjoyed until its mission for a ``just'' solution to the Kashmir issue was accomplished.

``We are not on a sightseeing tour. We are here to contribute to the efforts of India and Pakistan for a resolution of the Kashmir issue.''

Mr. Farooq asserted that Kashmir could never be resolved with out the involvement of Kashmiris in dialogue. All past accords failed as they were reached without ascertaining the wishes of Kashmiris.

JKLF leader Yasin Malik took exception to the moderator giving credit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for allowing the Hurriyat leaders to take the bus to PoK and Pakistan. ``This is my ninth visit to `Azad Jammu and Kashmir' and the first by bus. Eight times before I have come through different routes with a number of followers. The bus, or permission to let us travel, is certainly not a gift of anyone. It is the result of sacrifices made by one lakh Kashmiris since 1947.''

Mr. Malik said India and Pakistan should engage Kashmiris in the dialogue process as the main party to the ``dispute.''

The former chief of the Hurriyat, Abdul Ghani Bhat, said he considered the invitation extended by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to the Hurriyat leaders the ``first step'' towards the involvement of Kashmiris in the India-Pakistan dialogue process.

Former Prime Minister of PoK Sardar Abdul Qayyum described the visit of the Hurriyat leaders as a study tour. ``They are here on an official invitation from the Pakistan President. To that extent, their interaction here and in Pakistan at various levels would be important. But that certainly does not amount to dialogue,'' Mr. Qayyum told The Hindu.

The Hurriyat leaders are expected to be in Islamabad for three or four days. Their engagements there include meetings with Gen. Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Pakistan is attaching importance to the visit of the Hurriyat leaders for two reasons. First, it signals the involvement of Kashmiris in the dialogue process. Second, it affords an opportunity to Gen. Musharraf, in particular, to explain the rationale of his recent initiatives with India.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page