Shabir Shah for peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue

Srinagar, Apr 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party will support any move which will help to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully.

'' We favour a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir'', (DFP) chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah told a delegation from Sweden here today.

Mr Shah said India and Pakistan have taken a number of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to improve their relations but nothing concrete has been done on Kashmir.

The DFP chief said India still claims that Kashmir was its integral part while Pakistan and the people of Kashmir have announced to dilute their known stand so that a peaceful settlement of the issue was possible.

He said Kashmir still remains a core issue in the sub- continent even though India and Pakistan have come closer on many issues, including trade.

Mr Shah alleged that no CBM was taken on Kashmir and the situation remains grim.

He said the Indian security forces, under a planned strategy, are occupying thousands of kanals of land in the valley. Innocent people are being killed in fake encounters, tortured to death in custody and hundreds of Kashmiris are languishing in jails for years with any trail, he told the delegation.

About the recent turnout in the by-election, Mr Shah said separatist leaders were not allowed to meet the people.

"I was put under house arrest for four days to prevent me from addressing anti election rallies'', he said.

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