Srinagar, May 26 – Breaking away from tradition, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not be meeting any Kashmiri separatist leader during his visit to attend Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony on May 26 in New Delhi.
“We have not received any invitation and we were not expecting an invitation to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Pakistan PM is coming for a swearing-in ceremony. He is not coming for talks. So, it is totally a different issue,” moderate Hurriyat Conference spokesman Shahid-ul-Islam said.
The Hurriyat spokesman said in the past, every Pakistan leader on a Delhi visit would invite the separatist leaders for talks. “The Pakistan ambassador would call us and then, we would meet the visiting Pakistani dignitary to give him our views about the talks. Since, Sharif is not coming for talks, we feel this is an entirely different issue,” he said.
Earlier, the moderate Hurriyat faction send positive signals for dialogue, stating it is for a solution of the Kashmir issue acceptable to all three parties. “India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir must engage with each other and put forward serious efforts to resolve the conflict,” Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.
Mirwaiz said focus should be on finding a solution that accommodates the needs and interests of all parties and upholds aspirations of Kashmiris. “The solution will have to be acceptable to all. It must ultimately reflect the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“There must be a serious and result-oriented process of dialogue. For this to happen, India and Pakistan must engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir as an active and true partner in the search for peace. For any lasting solution, Kashmiris must be involved,” Mirwaiz said.
“Kashmiris will be closely watching the developments between. If we see any signs of a serious and courageous effort to find a solution, we will definitely respond with an even greater sense of seriousness and courage,” he added.
-INDIA TODAY
