Srinagar, Mar 18: Asking New Delhi to initiate meaningful dialogue for the resolution of Kashmir issue, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said that happenings in Middle East will have a bearing on Kashmir.
Addressing the Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid here after returning from six week long foreign trip, Mirwaiz said New Delhi should engage Pakistan and Kashmiris for resolving six-decade old dispute without wasting time.
 “The Government of India should start dialogue with Kashmiris and Pakistan and also implement the proposal given by us. Kashmiris should be accepted as principal party in talks and promises made with us by Indian leadership should be fulfilled,” he said.
 Mirwaiz said that happenings in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Yemen will have an impact on Kashmir.
 “These struggles are for will and aspirations of people and Kashmiris too are fighting for the same rights. There are cries for resolution of Kashmir issue in the wake of uprisings in Middle East. World has realized as Palestine is core issue for peace of Middle East, Kashmir is for the sub-continent,” he said.
 Mirwaiz, who participated in conferences in USA, Britain and Geneva, said that voices for resolving Kashmir were echoing in every nook and corner of the world.
 “Today we don’t need to brief world about Kashmir issue. They are aware that our struggle is indigenous and not sponsored or imported one. No country can deny about existence of Kashmir issue and even Israeli Foreign Minister said that Kashmir is a pending dispute,” he said.
 The pro-freedom leader said since peaceful agitation of 2008, ‘India cannot befool the world that our movement is a terrorist struggle.’
 “If there is terrorism, it is State-sponsored terrorism. The laws and judiciary is being trampled and our youngsters are being implicated in false cases,” he said.
 Flaying Army's statement that 700 militants are waiting to infiltrate, Mirwaiz said these claims are absurd.
 “This is an attempt to malign our peaceful movement and a part of well planned conspiracy to portray our struggle as violent, as New Delhi can face militancy but not people’s movement,” he said, adding it was unfortunate that Army was making statements on political issues.
 “Everything here is decided by Army and police, while state government is just a rubber stamp,” he said.
 Mirwaiz said that government was ruining the career of students by putting them behind the bars. "These arrests can not suppress our movement, but will strengthen our resolve," he stated.

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