Pakistan’s invitation for talks evokes mixed reaction in Kashmir
By ANIFriday, March 26, 2010
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Mar 26 (ANI): The Pakistani Government’s invitation to some Hurriyat Conference leaders to come for talks to resolve the Kashmir issue has evoked a mixed reaction in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdul Gani Bhat, a senior Hurriyat leader, played down the invite asserting that a resolution of the Kashmir issue would come only through talks.
“If you ask me, I am very interested that people (Kashmiri leaders) should go there (Pakistan) and talk. People should come here and talk. They should talk here and go there, so that the process of dialogue can begin and a solution emerges,” said Bhat.
Residents in Srinagar, however, feel that Islamabad is attempting to create a wedge between the moderate and hardline Hurriyat factions to prevent the talks from being fruitful.
“It (Hurriyat Conference) is not united at all. There are certain pitfalls in the organisation. That is why the Pakistan Government is taking advantage of those pitfalls and they are sidelining some leaders of the Kashmir Valley,” claimed Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar.
Others also expressed similar views.
“If everybody had been invited it would been better for Jammu and Kashmir. It seems that Pakistan is trying to create some different situation. That is why Pakistan is inviting some and not inviting others,” observed Javaid Ahmad, another resident of Srinagar.
Pakistan has reportedly invited Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik for talks, but has ignored leaders like Abdul Gani Bhat, Abbas Ansari and Bilal Gani Lone. (ANI)
