FM's statement reflects India's negative approach: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, June 5 (UNI) Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today criticised External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement in which he dismissed Pakistan's charge that India had heavily militarised Jammu and Kashmir and security forces were trying to restore normalcy in the troubled state.

''It reflects the negative approach of India toward resolution of the Kashmir tangle. India considers Jammu and Kashmir as its fief and deals with the issue as it likes,'' he told journalists here.

The Mirwaiz said de-militarisation of Jammu and Kashmir was a pre-requisite for the resolution of the contentious Kashmir issue.

''This is the only place in the world where the highest number of armed forces are deployed,'' he claimed.

The Mirwaiz said the European Union report had described Jammu and Kashmir as the most ''beautiful prison'' in the world given the presence of huge concentration of troops in the state.

''I don't agree with suggestions that there is militarisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces and law enforcing agencies are maintaining law and order in the state,'' he told reporters after addressing the concluding session of a two-day conference 'Towards South Asian unity', organised by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

Mr Mukherjee had said the committee set up by the Centre in April to consider the demand for troop reduction in the strife-torn state was doing its job.

Pakistan claims that India has deployed about 7,00,000 troops in Jammu and Kashmir and insists on reducing their strength in the troubled state.

UNI