Srinagar, Feb 19: Ahead of Indo-Pak talks on February 25, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is meeting the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to demand inclusion of Kashmir issue in the dialogue. Mirwaiz said Hurriyat would distance itself from the dialogue if the issue is not included.
Mirwaiz told Greater Kashmir that on the conglomerate’s request Pak high commission in New Delhi formally invited them for meeting the Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Wednesday evening - a day before Indo-Pak talks. He said a Hurriyat Conference (M) delegation comprising of senior members would leave for Delhi on Tuesday.
“Our meeting was scheduled after February 25. But we took the initiative and requested the Pak high commission to pre-pone the meeting,” he said. Mirwaiz said the conglomerate’s motive behind the meeting was to impress upon Pakistan to include Kashmir issue in the talks and apprise the Foreign Secretary of Hurriyat’s stand.
Hurriyat insiders said that Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone and Agha Syed Hasan Al Mosvi Al Safvi would be part of the delegation.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir is scheduled to visit India and meet his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao on February 25.
Mirwaiz publicly announced his meeting and its agenda at Jamia Masjid here this afternoon. He said: “I will meet him on behalf of the people of Kashmir and make it clear that Kashmir should be included in the agenda of talks. We hope the neighbors will show seriousness and sincerity and talk on the basic issue.”
He said the conglomerate would have nothing to do with the Indo-Pak talks if Kashmir wasn’t included in it. “Kashmir welcomes any level of Indo-Pak talks but we don’t want them to negotiate for betterment of relations while innocents are being killed in Kashmir. We don’t want the foreign secretaries to talk about tertiary issues ignoring the root cause of all problems in the sub-continent.”
Mirwaiz said Hurriyat has always sought resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue. He wanted both the countries to at least make some forward movement on Kashmir. “Let them do it in stepwise manner but let this be the start,” he said.
“India and Pakistan have fought three wars. And the wars were not fought for water, Siachen, Sir Creek or economic issue. The wars were fought over Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Even Kargil was fought over the dispute and the issue can’t be left in cold storage,” he stated.

SLAMS GOVERNMENT FOR HR VIOLATIONS:
Slamming the state government for human rights violations in Kashmir, Mirwaiz demanded action against the troopers responsible for killing teenagers recently. “We are watching the things. Let the government not shield the killers. Or else we will give a massive programme and the government will be responsible for the law and order situation.”
He said the troopers have “broken records in committing atrocities on Kashmiris” and they were let free “which is sheer state terrorism.” He condemned ransacking of houses by troopers and crackdown on youth and the pro-freedom camp.
“We will respond to these atrocities and if government doesn’t stop it, it will be responsible for the consequences.”
He said the pro-freedom camp wasn’t allowed to protest peacefully. He said the “enemy agents” have entered the ranks of pro-freedom camp which were helping in action against youth.
Pledging to continue the freedom struggle, he said Kashmir struggle couldn’t be curbed forcibly for past 65 years. “Any attempt of intimidation, terror to suppress it will meet the same fate in future as well.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST