Srinagar, June 23: Welcoming the statement of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, separatist leaders maintained that the world body should play its role in the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Reacting cautiously to the remarks, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said Kashmir is not a border dispute between India and Pakistan.
 “It is a hard reality that Kashmir dispute is concerned with the future of one crore 30 lakh people and it is the moral and constitutional obligation of United Nations Security Council and Ban Ki Moon to implement the 18 resolutions passed by it on Kashmir,” Geelani said.
 The separatist leader said UN resolutions state that Kashmir is neither part of India nor Pakistan and its people should be given right to self-determination.
 “UN should adopt the realistic approach and take steps for the implementation of its resolutions,” he added.
 Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said UN has begun to realize its responsibility towards the Kashmir issue.
 “It is encouraging to see the role of UN vis-a-vis political and human rights in Kashmir,” he said.
 Mirwaiz said the world is talking about the resolution of Kashmir issue due to sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris in past 64 years especially during past 20 years.
 “It is time for them to impress upon India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir and involve them in talks for deciding their future,” he added.
 Terming the statement as good sign, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said that Kashmiris need to be on board for any dialogue process aimed at resolving the issue.
 “The statement is welcome. But we want to convey that Kashmir is not a border dispute between India and Pakistan, but the issue is concerned with the future of the residents of United Jammu and Kashmir whose four generations have been consumed by the conflict and the real custodians should be on board in the dialogue process,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST