Baramulla, May 17: Calling for time-bound resolution of Kashmir issue, senior separatist leader and chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday said settlement of the dispute and not trade should be the priority for India and Pakistan. He said the only way to reduce animosity between the two neighboring countries lies in the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“We are not against Indo-Pak trade ties. However at the same time we won’t allow the Kashmir issue to be put on back-burner,” Mirwaiz said while addressing a gathering here as a part of the Hurriyat program to commemorate death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Mirwaiz said for improvement of economic ties between India and Pakistan, Kashmir dispute is big hurdle and without prioritizing the issue for resolution, the efforts for improving the relations between the two countries will prove futile.
He said so far India has failed to take concrete measures in the direction of resolution of the Kashmir issue.
“A draconian law like AFSPA, which gives license to a soldier to kill the innocent youth, is in vogue. India is showing reluctance even to amend the law which shows their non-seriousness towards the issue” Mirwaiz said.
He said the Hurriyat Conference will not shy away from the talks provided these are aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue. Lashing out at the people whom he said claim to be the elected representatives, Mirwaiz said they are the people who pass the draconian laws in the assembly. He said that if they want to see the representative character of Hurriyat, then let them withdraw the troops from the state.
Senior Hurriyat (M) leader and Peoples Conference chairman Bilal Gani Lone while addressing the gathering said the separatist groups should fight mainstream parties, who are a big hurdle in the resolution of the K-issue.
“PDP and NC are the big threat in the resolution of the Kashmir issue. At the time of two big political killings in valley, the reins of the administration were in the hands of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed at the Centre and Dr Farooq Abdullah in the valley,” Bilal said.
Paying rich tributes to the Abdul Gani Lone and Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, Bilal said that conglomerate will leave no efforts to complete the mission of these two great leaders.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, senior separatist leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat said that Hurriyat’s stand is clear that it is seeking permanent settlement of Kashmir issue. He said that for the settlement of K-issue “we are ready for talks.”
While lashing out at the people who term the talks as sellout, Prof Gani said in the past also we held talks and at that time also we were accused of indulging in some conspiracy.
He said for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, different possibilities are there and for that talks are the only option which can pave way for the permanent settlement of the issue.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 IST