NEWS

Vohra's mission is dead: Mirwaiz

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
May 14, 2003 21:08 IST

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, former chairman of the saparatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference, on Wednesday said if there ever is a proposal to convert the Line of Control into international border, the APHC will oppose it tooth and nail.

Speaking to rediff.com from his residence in Srinagar, the Mirwaiz said he is not aware of any American roadmap for Kashmir.

Rejecting Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's statement that the Hurriyat had no option but to talk to Centre's representative, N N Vohra, the Mirwaiz said: "How can he say that we have no option but to talk to Vohra. We have our own stand. It is not our compulsion, but the compulsion of India and Pakistan to talk on Kashmir because of the changed international situation after the Iraq war."

Asked why the Hurriyat was not willing to meet Vohra, he said Kashmir is not an issue which can be solved by 'floating tenders.'

"Vohra came to Kashmir and put in an advertisement asking people to come and meet him. The advertisement sounded more like a tender notice. As far as we are concerned his mission has been overtaken by other developments. N N Vohra's mission is dead," the Mirwaiz said.

He said the changed circumstances would force Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to change his stand on Hurriyat Conference in the same manner as Omar Abdullah, former minister of state of external affairs and president of the National Conference.

"We are a political force to reckon with irrespective of whether someone likes it or not," he added.

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email