New York, Sep 30: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has reiterated that New Delhi should send army back to barracks and remove draconian laws from Jammu and Kashmir for ongoing parleys to become successful.
 Speaking at the annual meeting of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) of Foreign Ministers here, Mirwaiz said, “We welcome the recent meeting of Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan but we want to remind them that the ongoing dialogue needs an ownership by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This objective can be achieved by withdrawing draconian legislations, releasing political prisoners, and sending the army back into the barracks. In fact the ground situation needs to improve.”
 He thanked the members of OIC for keeping the genuine cause of Kashmir in the focus.
 “As a Kashmiri representative I have no hesitation in conveying to you the deepest regard of the people of JK for keeping the genuine cause of Kashmir in the focus of your discussions and adopting numerous resolutions to express solidarity with Kashmiris.” Mirwaiz said.
 He said that if Kashmir issue is not resolved forthwith it could have far reaching consequences. “The Kashmir crisis burdened with more than half a century of futile attempts for a resolution, now steers glaringly at 1.2 billion people of the sub-continent. It is fraught with stern wariness that further dragging on of Kashmir settlement may prove to be catastrophic as both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers.” Mirwaiz said.
 He said that present situation calls all the more for a meaningful and permanent settlement of the Kashmir conflict, “Kashmiris would welcome a settlement which fulfils our aspirations and just desire to be the masters of own destiny, wishing to manage the homeland as they deem fit and as best they can.”
 Mirwaiz also gave a broad description of how the present India-Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir would proceed and whether it would lead to substantive, sustainable, and wholesome settlement of the issue. “The dispute requires sagacity, prudence, and above all political will. The victims of conflict in JK deserve the goodwill of all human beings who believe in human decency, the role of a just law, and the essence of sweet life as embedded in guaranteed fundamental freedoms. The dialogue I believe should be inclusive at all levels and time bound and it needs to be backed by international forces and political powers.”
 “The OIC can play its rightful role in backing this dialogue,” he said. “The OIC can use its good offices and initiate some fresh initiatives to facilitate the positive process already set in motion by India and Pakistan. India needs to be convinced that it is desirable to have an external facilitation for resolving the oldest imbroglio on the agenda of United Nations.”
 On the refusal of Indian government’s permission to OICs fact finding mission to visit Kashmir, Mirwaiz said, “Some other constructive mechanisms need to be identified for the purposes of monitoring the gross human rights violations like mass graves and extra judicial killings. Talks and gross HR violations cannot go hand in hand.”
 Mirwaiz strongly condemned the recent release of the defamatory video targeting the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) and called for declaration on the issue. “The act was to incite religious hatred, discrimination and violence against Muslims and their religion,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Oct 2012 00:00:00 IST