National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Hurriyet leaders while welcoming the
meeting between foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India in New Delhi have stressed need of including the Kashmiris in the dialogue process for finding an amicable resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The All Parties Hurriyet Conference commenting on the development said
that the APHC never opposed the dialogue between India and Pakistan.
“However, our stand is that Kashmir issue should be the core and prime
agenda between the two countries.These meetings and dialogues will fetch
nothing concrete, nor help in changing the prevailing political uncertainty in South Asia until this issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes and
sacrifices of the Kashmiri people,” it said, Kashmir media service reported.
The statement maintained that bilateral talks have been a routine for
the past 60 years and have been repeated some 150 times so far “but all these talks failed to eliminate the trust-deficit between the two nations.”
“Kashmir issue cannot be bypassed because it is not a border dispute
which could be resolved by mere give and take method.
It is the issue of future of more than 15 million Kashmiris and both
these nations had promised on international forums that no readymade solution will be thrust upon the people and that the final say will belong to the people of the territory,” the statement maintained.
The Hurriyet forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his statement said both the countries should create conducive atmosphere to carry forward the dialogue process.
“The Pak-India foreign secretary-level talks on the sidelines of Heart
of Asia Conference is a good sign and it is hoped that both the countries will shun the confrontational attitude and adopt meaningful dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir,” it said.
Describing as reality the Pakistan’s assertion that Kashmir is the core
issue between the two countries, the Hurriyet forum said, “There is a need for creating an atmosphere based on confidence building measures to start a
meaningful dialogue among India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership to resolve
the Kashmir issue,” the statement pointed out.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front in a statement also supported the dialogue over confrontation. “It is good to talk over issues and resolve them amicably.
But if India and Pakistan want to talk on Kashmir, they have to talk to Kashmiris, who are basic and primary party to the dispute,” a JKLF spokesman said.