Two sides of Kashmir must be part of dialogue: Ved Pratap Vaidik

Mumbai, Aug 14: Journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik, whose meeting with 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in 2014 had created a controversy, today suggested the Kashmir issue can be resolved through four-party talks - India, Pakistan and both sides of Kashmir.

"I think the Kashmir issue is an extremely complex issue between India and Pakistan and this can be solved by dialogue only, and it should involve four parties," Vaidik said during an interaction at the Mumbai Press Club.

"Apart from India and Pakistan, this issue should be and must be resolved by both the Kashmirs, the Kashmir rightfully governed by India and the other Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said.

The imbroglio can never be sorted out without involving both sides of Kashmir in the dialogue process, he said, adding India need not be defensive while holding the dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reminder to Pakistan about the excesses it committs in Balochistan and its illegal occupation of PoK was an upright stand, Vaidik said.

"I have been advocating such a bold stance on Kashmir issue from all the previous Prime Ministers. Modi has put it into practise now," he said.

He also said that before demanding a plebiscite in Kashmir, Pakistan should go through the conditions laid down by the UN, such as withdrawal of forces from PoK which it had usurped illegally.

Pakistan should also return the vast tract of Indian land which it gave away to China, he said.

Speaking on the future of small magazines in India, Vaidik said the Modi government had failed to come out with a policy to promote Hindi education.

"Hindi has not been given due respect in the country. Those who claim to be nationalists have not done anything for the uplift of Hindi," he said.

PTI