Srinagar, April 6
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has described his recent meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister in New Delhi as successful.

Addressing a gathering at Jamia Masjid here today, the Mirwaiz said the Prime Minister reiterated that aspirations and wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be given priority during the Indo-Pak dialogue process.

“Peace, political stability and economic progress in South Asia is not possible unless the permanent solution to long-pending issues of Jammu Kashmir are resolved,” the Mirwaiz said.

He said Kashmiris would like SAARC to be strengthened so that South Asia also is developed on the lines of the European Union where the concept of borders had been diluted to the extent that the entire Europe functions like a unit in socio-economic fields.

He hoped that the leadership of SAARC and especially that of India and Pakistan would adopt a positive attitude so that all pending issues were resolved.

The Mirwaiz held that while the Pakistan President Gen Parvez Musharraf had shown “required flexibility” and had come forward with solid proposals, India still “seemed to be the captive of old rigid mindset because of which the dialogue process is moving at a snail’s pace”.

Jammu, April 6
Pressure is being built by leaders of various political parties on the Prime Minister to invite the separatists, who have boycotted the dialogue process, for talks.

They have urged the Prime Minister to convene the third roundtable conference.

Hakeem Yaseen, minister for transport and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), and Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, MLA and CPM leader, today issued separate statements asking the Prime Minister to accept this demand. The PDP has also raised this demand a few days ago.

Yaseen urged the leaders of India and Pakistan to collectively address all issues in a conducive and cordial atmosphere.

“Since both the countries are aware of the ground realities, there is a need for composite dialogues so that all problems relating to Jammu and Kashmir are resolved,” the minister said.

Underlining the importance of involving all political parties and the separatists in dialogue either jointly or separately, he said “collective approach and viewpoint of all groups is must to reach the logical conclusion”.

He stressed upon the need for formulating a comprehensive agenda to bring the separatist leaders across the table. Having earlier slammed the Centre for setting up a panel on the pullout of troops, CPM leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has asked the Prime Minister to involve separatists in the dialogue.

In a letter to the PM, Tarigami emphasised that all issues should to be debated on a broader compass to render the outcome more credible.
“The initiation of an internal dialogue on Kashmir by you is a significant measure towards the quest for peace. As the contours of the dialogue widen and credible measures are taken to address the genuine aspirations of the people, hopes would soar high.

Four of the five working groups set up after the second roundtable conference in Srinagar are expected to submit their reports shortly. However, the fifth dealing with the crucial issue of Centre-state relations is not able to assume discussions in time. Taking into account the importance and the delicate nature of the subject it may not be possible for it to come out with its recommendations in the near future, more so, when certain shades of political opinion have so far chosen to remain away from the process. Efforts need to be made for ensuring their participation to render the dialogue broad-based and purposeful,” he said.

He suggested that the Prime Minister, instead of waiting for the recommendations of the fifth working group, should convene the third roundtable conference to consider the recommendations of the four groups.