Ex-Hurriyat chairman asks mainstream, separatists to pass resolution for resumption of India-Pakistan talks

Prof Abdul Gani Bhat Friday called on mainstream and separatist parties to join heads and come up with a joint resolution.
Representational Image Only. |PTI
Representational Image Only. |PTI

SRINAGAR: Senior separatist leader and former chairman of Hurriyat Conference Prof Abdul Gani Bhat Friday called on mainstream and separatist parties to join heads and come up with a joint resolution urging India and Pakistan to resume the stalled dialogue process.

He also called for third-country’s involvement in India-Pakistan talks to safeguard the dialogue process.

“Let all political leaders and political parties including mainstream National Conference, PDP, Congress, BJP and separatist groups sit together to break walls and join hands for the interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir. They should sit together to draft a joint resolution to impress upon leaders of India and Pakistan to restart the stalled dialogue process for the peace and stability of South Asia,” Bhat said at the launch of his autobiography ‘Beyond Me’.

Bhat had been a strong votary of former Pakistan  military ruler General Parvez Musharraf’s four point formula on Kashmir.

Stressing Indian and Pakistan to devise a mechanism for result oriented talks in respect to the resolution of Kashmir issue, he sought involvement of third-country, which has friendly ties with both New Delhi and Islamabad, in India-Pak talks.

“The involvement of third country will safeguard the talks and the friendly country can play an active role in getting the talks resumed in case they get stalled,” Bhat said.

Stressing that a message of togetherness should flow from Kashmir, the separatist leader said, “Kashmiris would light this candle for ending the darkness that has engulfed the minds of Kashmiris, Indians, Pakistanis and people of entire South Asia.”

“We shall guide Indians and Pakistanis to the righteous end and light is only in the Indo-Pak dialogue at all costs,” said Bhat, who is an executive members of moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said India had entered the pockets and stomachs of Kashmiris but not into the sacred chambers of their hearts.

“India entered Kashmir with the roar of gun amidst the noise of democracy,” he said.

The former Hurriyat chairman said the lingering Kashmir issue has been the main cause of tension and instability in the South Asian region and has led to armed conflicts between India and Pakistan in past causing enormous problems for the smooth and peaceful development of this region. “

“By relegating Kashmir issue to backburner, entire South Asia would get plunged into instability and insecurity. A small spark can stoke fires in the entire region,” he said adding by exhibiting political courage, India and Pakistan leadership would secure the bright future of the people living in South Asia.

Bhat said people of Kashmir have always been in favor of the resolution of Kashmir issue by peaceful means and through a result-oriented dialogue. 

In an indirect reference to the separatist leaders, who are spearheading the over four-month-long unrest in the Valley, Bhat said the leadership needs to hear the heartbeat of the people and understand tomorrow.

“As a politician, one has to have a deeper understanding, faith, and strategy,” he added.
 

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com