The Hindu : National : Leave Kashmiris alone, Geelani tells Pakistan

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Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
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National

National

Leave Kashmiris alone, Geelani tells Pakistan

Special Correspondent

Islamabad taking "hasty" steps to achieve peace

Syed Ali Shah Geelani

NEW DELHI: Kashmir leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has asked Pakistan to leave Kashmiris alone as he believes Islamabad is taking "hasty" steps to achieve peace in the region. He said Pakistan's policy had harmed the cause of Kashmiris globally.

Mr. Geelani conveyed this to Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mohammad Kasuri at a meeting here on Thursday. He told Mr. Kasuri that Pakistan should keep off from Kashmir if it could not support the separatists. "Leave the Kashmiris alone. We will fight our battle and take it to a logical conclusion rather than let Pakistan create confusion by its roadmaps and policies."

In a statement issued here on Friday, Mr. Geelani said he also told Mr. Kasuri that "the policy of Islamabad was indicative enough that it had agreed to New Delhi's stand on Jammu and Kashmir."

Criticising Islamabad for frequently proposing road maps on Kashmir, Mr. Geelani asked Mr. Kasuri why he did not take up the issue of fake encounters, repeal of "black" laws and human rights violations with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.

The statement said Pakistan's present stand was creating "chaos and confusion" among various groups in Kashmir. "If Pakistan cannot support us the way it has been doing since 1947 and if there are some compulsions in doing so, leave us alone."

Mr. Kasuri said that Pakistan wanted free movement of people across the border and better trade ties between the two parts of Kashmir. According to the statement, Mr. Kasuri said Pakistan wanted to settle the Kashmir issue keeping in mind the aspirations of Kashmiris.

Mr. Kasuri held meetings with leaders of separatist groups, including All-Party Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who stressed the need to continue the peace process despite the Samjhauta Express blasts, and JKLF chief Yasin Malik, who sought the involvement of Kashmiris in resolving the issue.

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