The Hindu : National : I am not invited but I welcome the talks: Shabir Shah

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Monday, Sep 05, 2005

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I am not invited but I welcome the talks: Shabir Shah

Shujaat Bukhari

Kashmiris have always been betrayed and there is nothing new in it

SRINAGAR: The Democratic Freedom Forum (DFP) chief, Shabir Shah, has come out in support of the talks between the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference and the Prime Minister on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shah, who was the only separatist politician who agreed to talk to K C Pant, the Centre's former interlocutor on Kashmir, said: "Past experience shows that the Government of India has not been sincere in talking to the people of Kashmir." He said he was "ditched" in spite of the fact that he had agreed to talk to the Centre against all odds. "The Kashmiris have always been betrayed and there is nothing new in it. Let us see how it [Hurriyat talks] goes as in principle we have never been against talks. I do not have expectations with this meeting... in case the Hurriyat leaders are able to push ahead the dialogue process in accordance with the wishes of the people I wish them luck."

Mr. Shah said he had always advocated result-oriented dialogue and he would like to be a part of it. "I am not invited and cannot speak about what the broad contours would be." But he said the ball was in New Delhi's court.

Mr. Shah said the Pakistan Government had accepted Kashmiris as a party to the dispute and now it was the turn of the Indian Government to do so. Human rights violations continued unabated and there was no effort to end them. "Dialogue and violations cannot go together." He reiterated that the talks must be held on only one issue: Kashmir.

The People's Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, said the talks were long overdue. "It is a great movement forward," she said adding that miracles should not be expected in the first meeting. She congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking the initiative to hold talks. The opposition National Conference chief, Omar Abdullah, also welcomed the talks but added that New Delhi should talk to all sections of society to find a solution to the Kashmir problem. The Indian and Pakistani leadership should involve elected representatives of the State in talks.

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