Centre not sincere in resolving Kashmir issue: Geelani

Srinagar, Mar 5 (UNI) Breakaway Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has accused the Centre of being insincere in resolving the Kashmir issue and reiterated that the problem should be addressed as per the UN resolutions.

Commenting on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's round-table conference on Kashmir in New Delhi on February 25, he said India was ''deceiving the world community''.

''There is no respite in human rights violations and custodial killings in the state. We want a peaceful and lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. The approach adopted by India is to show to the world that it wants resolution of the issue. But, New Delhi's policies are dubious,'' Mr Geelani said in a statement here.

He called for addressing the Kashmir issue as per the United Nations resolutions which, according to the hardliner, favoured giving the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide their fate.

On US President George W Bush's visit to India and Pakistan, Mr Geelani said he made India the focus of attention.

''Mr Bush gave a clear impression that for the US, India was more important than Pakistan. The US has found in India an able ally on waging a war against Iran,'' he added.

The Hurriyat hardliner also criticised President Bush for ''maintaining silence'' on the Kashmir issue.

UNI AG PK BD1528