Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president and former legislatorEngineer Sheikh Abdul Rasheed on Thursday said that the Pakistan premier ImranKhan wanting to start peace talks is a positive step but said both India andPakistan should not take Kashmiris for granted.
“Imran is trying to start talks with India. It is a welcomestep. However, both the countries should not take the common Kashmiris forgranted,” Er Rasheed said while addressing a press conference at Press ClubKashmir in Srinagar.
He said that Kashmir is a political issue and needs to besolved politically.
“Deal this political issue politically. Don’t rule Kashmirthrough the barrel of the gun. All Kashmiris are well wishers of India and notits enemy,” Er Rasheed said while addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said after such a huge mandate the prime minister shouldbehave like a statesman and start talking about Kashmir “as no one can suppressthe voices of the common people here.”
Er Rasheed said that to create conducive atmosphere in thestate the government should release the political prisoners lodged in Tiharjail in Delhi as a part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).
“Kashmiri inmates lodged in Tihar jail should be releasedunconditionally,” he said.
He said that Masrat Aalam Bhat, Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Aasiya Andrabi and Dr Qasim Fakhtoo should be released unconditionally as a part of CBMs.