Islamabad, Nov 9: Hailing US President, Barack Obama’s statement on Kashmir, the Director Kashmir Centre Washington and US based Kashmiri American Council chief, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai has said the international community had no choice, but to support the people of Kashmir provided that the peaceful and indigenous character of the ongoing mass movement remains intact.
 “Obama’s statement is the acceptance of Kashmiris’ principle stance and rejection of India’s contention that Kashmir was its internal matter”, Dr Fai said this while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
 He pointed out that “through various diplomatic channels, Indian delegates had pursued the US president and conveyed him the sensitiveness vis-à-vis the K–word suggesting that the issue should not be mentioned during his visit to New Delhi.”
 He said there were voices in America like Bruice Ridder, Howard Schaffer and Bob Woodward who suggested that Obama should address the Kashmir issue during his visit.
 Dr. Fai said it was significant statement and not deviation from US policy. “Right from the day one America’s Kashmir policy has been quite consistent and they have said it time and again that Kashmir is a disputed territory and the issue has to be decided in accordance with the wish of the people”, he said adding he could have maintained silence over the issue, but it would have given a different message that the US does not care about Kashmir.
 He said the US president had made it clear that the resolution of the longstanding dispute was must for peace and stability of South Asia.
 Regarding India’s’ bid for the UNSC seat, he said Obama had rightly said that though “India has right to be the member of the highest body but it has to have a special responsibility.”
 He said it was the duty of Kashmiri leadership to let the world know “what are the responsibilities and commitments, which India made vis-à-vis the resolution of Kashmir”.
 About dialogue process, KAC chief said there was a dire need to define the parameters, besides including Kashmiri leadership in the talks. He however maintained that the impact of peace talks should be seen on ground and the important thing was to keep intact the peaceful and indigenous nature of movement.
 Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Yasin Malik and Syed Sallahudin had expressed their desire to get engaged in a meaningful dialogue if India was ready to accept Kashmir as a disputed territory, Dr Fai added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST