Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 20: Terming the protracted Kashmir-issue as a “political” one, moderate Hurriyat Conference today proposed an Indo-Pak summit on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) to address the issue in the larger interest of friendship, peace and prosperity in the region.
“We propose an Indo-Pak summit wherein the leadership of two countries along with Kashmiris can sit together to move forward and address the Kashmir (problem),” Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said addressing a seminar at Amalgam headquarters here.
A proposed summit in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad (capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) could be a big leap forward, he said.
Apparently referring to the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal section of Kashmir rail project next week, Mirwaiz said “Kashmir is a political problem which cannot be solved by economic packages or rail services.
“Kashmir issue needs political will and political approach for resolution. You need a road map and we feel it lies with the Kashmiris,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that there was no threat to the pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra this year and blamed security agencies for creating an atmosphere of a perceived threat.
“Nothing will happen to the yatris. We have always welcomed yatris and tourists here. It is a conspiracy hatched by security agencies to create an atmosphere of fear to hold their control on Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz was reacting to the statements of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Army who have said that annual Amarnath Yatra is facing threats from militants.
Recalling that in 2008 when Kashmiri was on boil, he said no yatri was touched and people opened langars for them when they were themselves suffering themselves.
“They extended their full support and co-operation for making their pilgrimage peaceful and successful,” he said.
Meanwhile, responding to the statements of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Northern Army Command Chief Lt General K T Parnaik that the Amarnath Yatra faces militant threat, Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani while addressing a press conference in Srinagar ruled out that there is any kind of threat to yatris and said the rumour is aimed at maligning their image.
Since last 150 years, the Amarnath Yatra is being conducted and during all this period the people of Jammu and Kashmir have treated yatris with the unique hospitality. “This is a unique example of hospitality and brotherhood from all over the world,” Geelani said, adding that the threat to yatris from Kashmiris can’t be even imagined.
Geelani said there are no such threats from any section of militants and it is the handiwork of forces and a deliberate attempt to create confusion and misconceptions. “Kashmiris are famous for their humble nature. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not communal and have nothing to do with sectarian politics. This is a conspiracy to defame us at international level,” he said.
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