Srinagar, May 25
A high-level delegation of the Hurriyat Conference is expected to board the bus to Muzaffarabad on June 2 on its visit to PoK and Pakistan. The delegation is going to Pakistan to hold talks with the militant and political leadership regarding the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Disclosing this here today, the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said he had been authorised by the constituent members to constitute the delegation by tomorrow, that would be followed by applying for travel documents.

The Mirwaiz was talking to mediapersons at the end of a four-hour-long meeting of the executive committee, working committee and general council at the party headquarters this afternoon. He said,“The people of Jammu and Kashmir can serve as a bridge between India and Pakistan” for the resolution of the issue and restoration of peace with dignity.

He expressed hope that the government would facilitate the completion of the travel documents of the members of the delegation to enable them to board the bus on June 2.

Though the Mirwaiz did not disclose anything about the strength of the delegation, it is understood that not more than four members would comprise the delegation. When asked about the inclusion of other leaders like Shabir Ahmad Shah, the Mirwaiz said the APHC would like all shades to be represented jointly. He, however, pointed out that the opening of the bus service was no solution to the Kashmir issue, the view propagated by the other faction, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which has yet to formally respond to the invitation.

“The APHC meeting decided that a high-level delegation would leave by bus on June 2 to visit PoK and Pakistan to hold talks on the political and human issue of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed on August 14, 1947”, the Mirwaiz said.

He expressed the hope that the governments of India and Pakistan would help in their visit to Islamabad while they would be travelling to Muzaffarabad on entry permit. He said over the past nearly six decades leaders of the state had not been allowed to talk to each other. He said it was necessary to involve all parties in the dialogue process to resolve the issue. “Our aim is to meet all militant and political leaders on the other side and political leaders of Pakistan and let them know our point of view”, the Mirwaiz pointed out.

He also made it clear that, ‘‘On its return the APHC would like to talk to the Government of India’’. He held that the Centre had not formally asked the APHC about continuing the dialogue process.

The APHC had earlier sought its visit to Pakistan prior to the continuation of the dialogue process with the Centre, after two rounds of talks with the NDA Government. “There is no positive signal from the Government of India”, Mirwaiz said in reply to a question adding that India should soften its approach and take adequate steps in the taking the dialogue process forward. “We hope that the Government of India softens its approach, if it is sincere on talks”, and added that it had also to look into the incidents of harassment and killings at the hands of the security forces and the release of the jailed Kashmiri youth and political leaders.