By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Srinagar: Chairman of the pro-freedom group Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday reiterated the need to resolve the long-pending Kashmir dispute and said that his party was ready to cooperate in any process aimed at resolving the dispute according to the wishes and aspirations of people of the state.
While welcoming the resumption of talks between nuclear neighbours India and Pakistan and raising his apprehensions, he said “the dialogue process between the two countries would not bear any result unless concrete steps were taken towards resolution of Kashmir dispute”. He was addressing people at the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar on Friday.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (Courtesy: Topnews)
“The proposed visit of Indian foreign Secretary to Pakistan is a welcome step, but without addressing the contentious Kashmir dispute, the mains source of tension and instability between the two countries, the dream of a progressive and secure south Asia could not be realized,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat Conference and people of Kashmir have always been in favour of friendly relations between India and Pakistan, adding, that the creation of friendly atmosphere and confidence building measures was a must to solve the issues between the two countries which would not only come as a reprieve for millions of people in South Asia but also put an end to the ‘misery’ of millions of people in Kashmir.
“Aims and objectives of SAARC could not be furthered till serious steps are not taken to solve the most contentious dispute of the region. The Prime Minister of India, who often talks of progress and development of South Asia should realize that without solution of Kashmir issue, the region would remain bereft of both lasting peace and progress,” Mirwaiz said.
He said that Kashmir issue was not a territorial, regional or bilateral dispute which could be addressed by government formation or by ‘so called’ electoral processes but it was concerned with the political future of more than ten million people.
“Right to self-determination is irreplaceable and no talks could succeed by keeping the Kashmir dispute on back-burner,” he added.