Srinagar, Aug 19: Three days after US Senator John McCain made a surprise visit to Kashmir, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the “strategically important” location of the region is forcing international attention towards its resolution as road to peace in Afghanistan runs through Kashmir.
 “Kashmir is a major political issue at international level. The important geographical location of Kashmir is now drawing attention at international level for its resolution,” Mirwaiz said addressing the Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid here. “We know the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Peace in the region is impossible till Kashmir is resolved,” Mirwaiz said.
 Mirwaiz said they have been asking international players including US to impress upon both India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir.
 “How can we expect a stable region of south Asia without Kashmir resolution,” he said. However Mirwaiz took strong exception to McCain’s statement in New Delhi on Thursday that he was “encouraged” to see improvement in the security situation in the state.
 “We welcome his statement that India and Pakistan should sit together to solve Kashmir. But we strongly oppose the statement that Kashmir situation is improving. We expect that outsiders should talk with sense of responsibility about Kashmir situation,” Mirwaiz said.
 Influential Senator from Arizona and 2008 Republican presidential candidate, McCain had said, “I am encouraged from what I saw in Kashmir, the sense of security returning to one of the most exquisite beautiful places on Earth”, while pointing out that locals were living more normal lives and there was better handling of issues by the authorities.
 Mirwaiz said “people” from outside countries come to the Valley for “one or two day trip” and term situation as normal.
 “This is a surface calm in Kashmir and a forced normalcy by use of power. India has created a facade of normalcy in Kashmir. J&K has been virtually turned into police state. What kind of normalcy is it where opposition is put under siege and house arrest? The arrest of youth continues,” Mirwaiz said.
 The Hurriyat Chairman condemned ‘government ban’ on his program at Big FM where he would discuss morality, social values and religion.
 “Now government is not allowing us to talk social values with our young generation. There is no doubt that JK is Muslim majority state and it is our duty to protect Muslim majority status of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.
 He took on government for mismanagement of traffic around Jamia Masjid especially on Fridays.
 Referring to Anna Hazare’s stand against corruption, Mirwaiz said corruption was rampant in J&K too.
 “We have corruption at every level in administration, politics and other institutions. Whenever we have spoken against it and other social ills, our voices have been suppressed. We were using FM as a medium to address these issues and generate awareness among youth on ethics and morality. But state did not tolerate it. The program was banned,” Mirwaiz said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST