Srinagar, June 10: Sticking to his stand, senior Hurriyat Conference leader and former Chairman of the conglomerate Prof Abdul Gani Bhat Sunday said the status of Jammu and Kashmir state is disputed “with or without” the United Nations resolutions.
 Bhat, while speaking at a delegate session of Muslim Conference at the party headquarters at Wazir Bagh here, termed the Kashmir dispute as more important and much bigger issue than any other issue in the sub continent.
 Referring to the incidents of year 1931, Bhat said the dispute existed much before 1947. “Jammu and Kashmir was disputed even when India and Pakistan did not exist. People were offering sacrifices way before 1947 and are doing the same today”, he said.
 Bhat also suggested to separatist leadership to take a lead for initiating a dialogue with India and Pakistan. “The Kashmir issue pertains to us and we are the ones who suffer the most, so we must think about inviting India and Pakistan to the negotiating table”, Bhat said. “We are not averse to economic and cultural friendship between the two countries but they must also pay heed to the sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiri hearts”, he added.
 Bhat also rejected the speculations that his party or the Hurriyat Conference was contemplating fighting 2014 assembly elections. “People who intend to fight elections are playing politics, however our politics is based on principles and it is worship”, Bhat said.
 He also rejected any possibility of dissolution of the Hurriyat Conference. “Those talking about breaking or dissolving Hurriyat Conference can never be the well wishers of Kashmiris”, he added.
 In an apparent defense of his earlier statement where he had questioned the viability of UN resolutions, the senior separatist leader called for an open dialogue and exchange of ideas within the Hurriyat conference. “Hurriyat is not meant for putting a gag on ideas of its leaders or constituents. However, the decision of the forum will be final and binding on one and all”, Bhat said.
 Bhat said the international community wants a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue through dialogue process. He also rejected any possibility of military confrontation between India and Pakistan. “India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers and there is no possibility of a war between the two countries”, the Professor said. KNS

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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