Hurriyat wants resolution of Kashmir in 2010

Accusing the Centre of projecting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as an excuse to stay away from dialogue with Pakistan, the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference on Friday asked both the countries to remove mistrust and resolve all issues, including Kashmir dispute, this year.

"We don't want another year (2010) to go down in the history of the sub-continent like previous years of mistrust and violence. We want the year to be remembered as one of friendship between the two countries, during which all the issues, including Kashmir, are settled," its chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said.

Addressing a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said, "Pushing Kashmir issue into the back-burner is not going to help. Kashmir is a political and human issue and can be resolved once for all if the people are given their right of self-determination."

On Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's statement on Thursday expressing desire of resuming composite dialogue with New Delhi, he said, "Islamabad's assertion for dialogue shows its sincerity towards peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue. India should avail this opportunity and come forward without further wastage of time. The world powers should also play their role in this regard," he said.

Mirwaiz alleged that the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan came to a standstill due to the rigidity of the Centre. "India is making Mumbai incident as an excuse to stay away from dialogue and escape from the resolution of Kashmir issue," he added.

"People consider Kashmir issue as a boundary dispute between India and Pakistan and view it through the lense of national agenda and national interest. This is not a boundary dispute but a political and a human issue," he said.

He said Hurriyat has forwarded to the Centre a six-point proposal to create a congenial atmosphere for dialogue. The proposals include complete withdrawal of troops, release of detenues, revocation of armed forces special powers act and easy travel across Line of Control.

Condemning the Central Reserve Police Force action against locals in Sopore after attack by militants on their patrol on Wednesday, Mirwaiz alleged, "Paramilitary troopers did not even spare patients in the hospitals and beat them up."