Former Prime Minister of Norway KjellMagneBondevik Sunday visited Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and discussed the “latest situation” in Jammu and Kashmir with the PaK president Sardar Masood Khan. Bondevik, who visited PaK on the invitation of Masood, visited Srinagar on Friday where he met top Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Bondevik briefed Khan about his visit to Srinagar and a meeting with the Joint Resistance Leadership there.
Khan told the visiting dignitary that the “grim situation in Kashmir requires diplomatic and political initiatives by the international community to end the sufferings of the Kashmiri people”.
“Diplomacy can help bridge divides and come to an understanding on a just and lasting resolution on the Kashmir dispute,” Khan said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution on the Kashmir dispute, adopted under chapter 6 of the UN Charter, outlines the modalities for the “pacific settlement of the dispute”.
Khan said the unsettled Kashmir dispute is a “danger to the regional and international peace and security and, therefore, negotiation, mediation, and observation are important to break the current deadlock”.
“The unresolved dispute of Jammu and Kashmir poses a serious threat to peace and security and therefore the UNSC cannot leave Kashmir in the lurch. It must step in to reactivate mechanisms for implementation of the UNSC resolution that calls for plebiscite in Kashmir,” he said.
Kashmir, he said, was “not just a legal dispute about territory, it is about the political destiny and future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
“Pakistan and Azad Kashmir (PaK) welcome former Norwegian Prime Minister’s keen interest in the resolution of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and assures full support to his initiative,” he said.
“We welcome initiatives made in good faith”, he said.
Norway had a long history of constructed and impartial diplomacy and we do hope that the country will play a role in peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute, Khan said and praised Bondevik for this “role as peacemaker”.
Masood said that Kashmiris strongly believe that there is no military solution to Kashmir and “India will have to sit across the table with Pakistan and genuine representatives of Kashmiri people to work out modalities for a peaceful settlement of the dispute”.
Speaking on the occasion, Bondevik while referring a report of the UNHRC expressed his grave concerned over “growing incidents of human rights violations in Kashmir”, according to officials.
He said that peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through dialogues and other means is imperative for lasting peace and stability in the region.
“He expressed his wish that all the parties to the Kashmir dispute including representatives of Kashmiri people must sit together to find an amicable solution to it,” officials said.
Bondevik also held a meeting with representatives of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (AJK Chapter) and discussed matters relating to Kashmir dispute, and visited the Line of Control (LoC).