Hurriyat in Islamabad for talks with Pak leaders

Islamabad, Jan 19: A three-member delegation of the moderate Hurriyat Conference (APHC), headed by Mirwaiz Oumer Farooq, arrived here today for talks with Pakistani leaders on President General Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula on Kashmir.

''We will hold detailed discussions with the leadership Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) leaders on President Musharraf's four-point formula,'' the Mirwaiz told reporters in Islamabad.

The Mirwaiz, who also met former caretaker Prime Minister and Chief of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and party's Secretary General Mushahid Hussein, described President Musharraf's proposal as positive.

President Musharraf had last month renewed his four-point formula, which envisages demilitarisation, self-governance and joint management in Kashmir.

The Hurriyat delegation, which also includes Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat and Mr Bilal Lone, came to Pakistan almost a week after Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Islamabad.

The delegation will also meet President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and other Pakistani political leaders during its stay in Islamabad.

The Mirwaiz said Kashmiri people were important stakeholders and no durable solution of the Kashmir issue could be found without their involvement in the peace process.

''The political leadership in India should realise the importance of Kashmiris' participation in the composite dialogue process,'' he said.

India and Pakistan have already agreed to hold the fourth round of their peace talks from March.

The Mirwaiz said Pakistan and the APHC leadership would make concerted efforts to mount moral pressure on India which, he claimed ''is still not showing required flexibility for a permanent solution of the Kashmir problem''.

''It is the right time to resolve the Kashmir issue and the leadership of Pakistan and India should come up with positive attitude to fulfil the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,'' he stressed.

The Mirwaiz said the lingering Kashmir problem had triggered a debate in the Indian media, which was also mounting pressure on its government to find an amicable solution of the problem.

''The Kashmir problem cannot be put on the back burner as it is vital for durable peace and security in the region,'' the APHC Chief said.

PoK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad said President Musharraf was making sincere efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue and the Kashmiri people had full trust in his leadership.

Mr Shujaat Hussain told reporters after meeting the delegation that Pakistan respected wishes of the Kashmiri people.

''The Kashmiri people must be given their rights and allowed to decide about their future according to their wishes, he said.

UNI