Farooq wants India should push forward process to resolve Kashmir issue

SRINAGAR - All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged India to push forward a process to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Farooq, on Sunday during a function, reiterated that the time had come for both India and Pakistan to take concrete steps to resolve the Kashmir problem.

“The time has come that Indian government should recognise the fact that this issue is a never ending issue…they (Indian authorities) can’t wish the issue away, they have to come forward, raise the issue, they have to take people into confidence. They have to talk to Pakistan and Kashmiri people. This is the high time that they should come forward. Unfortunately, when we see a situation of normalcy in Kashmir, the government becomes complacent. They try to forget the issue and problem,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Farooq, who recently visited Geneva and Beijing, also expressed hope that leaders of India and Pakistan would meet soon.

“The heads of state (India and Pakistan) are going to meet very soon. We hope that both countries should take an initiative on Kashmir issue. I know that both countries have other issues also but the core issue between the two countries is Kashmir issue,” added Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Leaders of India and Pakistan are expected to meet on the sidelines of a summit on global security at Washington next month.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to leave for Washington on a two-day visit to attend the Nuclear Security Summit starting April 12. But it is not yet clear whether Pakistan President Asif li Zardari or Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will represent Pakistan at this meet. (ANI)