Islamabad, May 10: Non resident Kashmiris on Monday rejected the recent assertion of the former Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, that India and Pakistan were near agreement on Kashmir.           
 “The four-point formula mooted by the former Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf to resolve Kashmir issue had no legitimacy whatsoever. Not a single Kashmiri was taken on board or made part of the discussions that had been going on between India and Pakistan,” said various delegates while speaking at a seminar “The Near Agreement, What it was?” held here.   
 The seminar was organized by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), and it was attended by politicians, intellectuals, academicians, noted journalists and Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of Line of Control (LoC).
 They said that Kashmiri leadership particularly Syed Ali Geelani had opposed the formula tooth and nail while Mirwaiz had termed it as a step towards the resolution.
 Delegates maintained that implementation of relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir were the best way to address the issue.
 Deliberating on different dimensions of the four-point formula, they said. “It had proved impracticable and infeasible as no progress was made on the much hyped issues of demilitarization, self-governance and joint-management.” 
 “Kashmiris want complete withdrawal of troops. No autonomy or joint-management is acceptable to them,” they added.
 “Instead of providing any solution the Musharraf’s formula had created confusion,” they added.
 Delegates stressed on the need for conflict resolution through coordinated and much concentrated efforts.
 Terming Kashmiris’ participation as must to seek a just and equitable solution of Kashmir dispute they said that India and Pakistan should associate Kashmiris’ genuine leadership in the talks process.
 Those who spoke on the occasion included Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, the executive director of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Prof Nazir Shawl, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre London, APHC convener G M Safi, Faiz Naqashbandi, Jamat Islami leader Noor-ul-Bari and others.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 IST