Lahore, Dec 23:  The visiting Hurriyat Conference (M) delegation headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Saturday reiterated that Kashmiris are the basic party to the Kashmir issue and their inclusion in talks is imperative for its amicable settlement.
 “We are the basic and primary party to the dispute. Therefore our participation in the dialogue process is inevitable,” Mirwaiz said at a press conference here last evening.
 He said the Hurriyat (M) delegation, during its ongoing Pakistan visit, insisted for the inclusion of Kashmiri leadership in the dialogue process. He added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered immensely and wanted a permanent settlement of the issue. “We are not averse to the talks, but Kashmiris must be part of the process,” Mirwaiz said.
 Replying to a question regarding water-sharing between India and Pakistan, senior executive member Bilal Gani Lone said, India and Pakistan signed Indus water treaty without taking Kashmiris into confidence. “You did not ask us before signing the treaty, why are now you asking us about it,” Bilal said.
 Mirwaiz argued that there was a shift in the mode of resistance in Kashmir from 2008, where lakhs of people were coming on the streets with no gun or bombs in their hands, but still they were being fired upon. KNS

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST