Resolve Kashmir issue for bigger role in world: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, Feb 2: Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq today said India has to resolve the Kashmir issue for a bigger role in world politics.

Referring to statements made by other separatist leaders that India was not ready to resolve the issue, Mirwaiz said India cannot play any role in the world politics without addressing the 57-year-old issue as per the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in down town this afternoon, he said, "People of the valley have to initiate every move to resolve the issue." He said not a single soldier of India and Pakistan has been killed since the ceasefire on the borders. However, killing of Kashmiris was still on.

Mirwaiz Omar said some people with vested interests are against the peaceful resolution to the issue.

''There is a Mafia of security forces, police, politicians and others who do not want to see peace in the vally as their shops will get closed once the issue is resolved,'' he said adding. ''They are the people who are doing business on Kashmiri blood. All these shops have to be closed down now.'' Without naming anyone he said some people are calling themselves the sympathisers of martyrs. ''My father and uncle were martyred while those criticising us are enjoying in foreign countries,'' he said.

About the recent visit to Pakistan by three-member Hurriyat delegation, he said it has generated a ray of hope to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

We find a positive change in Pakistan's attitude on Kashmir which definitely will help to move forward and bring peace in the entire region, Mirwaiz Omar told the congregation.

However, he said, India too have to come forward so that the issue, which has claimed lakhs of lives so far, could be resolved without any more delay.

He said until recently leadership across the border was saying that Pakistan was incomplete without Kashmir. However, things have changed and now the Pakistani leadership is ready to support any solution to the 57 year-old issue which will be acceptable to the people of the valley. Mirwaiz Omar, however, said the process, initiated by India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, has to be hastened. Now the time has come that all the parties, India, Pakistan and the people, come forward and help find a durable and acceptable solution to the issue, he said.

He took a strong exception to certain people's claim that the HC leaders were going on a picnic to Pakistan and other foreign countries.

This was the third visit to Pakistan by a three-member Hurriyat delegation, Mirwaiz, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone.

The Mirwaiz said during their stay in Pakistan, they met president General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Showkat Aziz and opposition leaders.

All are in favour of a solution to the Kashmir issue which would be acceptable to us, he said adding the delegation members also met the leadership of "Mujahideen" there.

He said things are moving forward and the day will soon come when the people of the valley will the reap benefit of their sacrifices.

He said until three years back, nobody had thought that the separatist leadership will be allowed to visit Pakistan to hold talks with the leadership there.

The HC leadership also held talks with the Indian Prime Minister on Kashmir issue, the Mirwaiz said adding the Kashmiri leadership from both sides also talked to each other.

UNI