Withdraw troops from entire JK: Hurriyat Conference

Srinagar, Mar 3: Demanding withdrawal of troops on both sides ofthe Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the moderate HurriyatConference (HC) today said the next few months will be very crucial forthe Kashmir issue.

''The time has come for India and Pakistan, already engaged inpeace process to withdraw their troops from both parts of Jammu andKashmir,'' the amalgam leaders said during a joint meeting of ExecutiveCouncil, highest decision making body and Working Committee and GeneralCouncil at its Rajbagh headquarter here today.

Withdrawal of troops would be the first step towards movingforward to find a durable and acceptable solution to the Kashmir issue,they said.

A spokesman of the HC said that at the meeting it was felt thatthe Kashmir issue has entered a decisive phase because of the supremesacrifices made by the people of the state since 1947 and it is noweveryone's duty to support the process which could help to resolve theissue peacefully.

The leaders said that they would have to redouble their efforts tomake the peace process more result oriented so that a durable solution,acceptable to the people of the state, is achieved. The next few monthswill be very crucial, the spokesman added.

''We, as a main party to the dispute, extend support to India andPakistan in their resolve to find a peaceful and lasting solution tothe issue,'' he said adding that both the countries have now realisedthat there could be no military solution to this problem.

The withdrawal of troops would help to improve relations betweenIndia and Pakistan, he said adding that some mainstream politicalparties are trying to use this for their political gains and were onlycreating hurdles.

The HC will soon launch a ''Awami Rabta programme'' (contact withpeople) to generate support to the process, the spokesman said.

The leaders expressed concern over the human rights violations by the security forces.

UNI

Related Stories

India, Pakistan to sign visa liberalisation pact
'We support India-Pak peace; withdraw troops'
News In Focus: Kashmir Burning>