Indo-Pak talks will succeed if Kashmir is made the main issue: Mirwaiz

SRINAGAR - The Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has said the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan will not succeed if the Kashmir issue is not addressed, and charged New Delhi with putting it on the backburner.

“We expect the Government of India to go ahead on a solid basis if they want to proceed with the composite dialogue. The main issue of the composite dialogue is Kashmir. India is trying to put the Kashmir (issue) on the second or third position,” claimed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

“They want to make terrorism the main issue. We want to say that if Kashmir is not made the central issue, if Kashmir is not made the main issue, the composite dialogue will not succeed,” he warned.

He also demanded the release of all political prisoners, demilitarization of the state, abolishment of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and a comprehensive political package.

“A comprehensive political package should be announced, the objective of which should be resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue with Kashmir, Kashmiri people and Pakistan,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said that terror continues to be the core issue of talks between India and Pakistan, and it would be one of the most important issues that would be taken up between the two nations during his forthcoming visit to Pakistan beginning July 15.

Relations between India and Pakistan has gone into a diplomatic freeze after New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based militants for the 26/11-Mumbai terror attacks. (ANI)