Rethink on dialogue policy: Geelani tells Pak

Srinagar, Jun 26: Pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today attacked Islamabad for its dialogue policy with India, saying continuation of such a process tantamount to ''applying salt on the wounds of innocent Kashmiris.''

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Geelani asked the Pakistani leadership to ''rethink and reconsider'' their policy of dialogue process with India.

''I want to tell the Pakistani leadership in clear terms that you started a dialogue process with India in January 2004 and have repeatedly admitted that there is no progress vis-a-vis the resolution of the Kashmir issue,'' he added.

''So, there is a need to rethink and reconsider that policy. The continuation of the dialogue process with India amounts to applying salt on the wounds of innocent and suppressed Kashmiris,'' said Mr Geelani who heads the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

Mr Geelani said the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan and also involving ''some people'' from Kashmir has not changed the ground situation in the Valley. ''The ground situation in Kashmir clearly demonstrates that the Indian security forces are misusing this dialogue process. In the garb of the dialogue process, the security forces are killing the innocent civilians, committing atrocities and subjecting the people to human rights violations,'' he alleged.

The firebrand leader termed it an ''unfortunate situation''.

He alleged that the security forces were indulging in ''genocide of Kashmiris''.

About Union Home secretary V K Duggal's recent statement that suggestions would be welcomed for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Mr Geelani said one such concrete proposal was to accept Jammu and Kashmir as a ''disputed territory''.

''India should then implement the UN resolutions and allow the people of the state to take own decision about their future,'' the hardline leader said.

UNI

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