Hurriyat's Geelani sets down conditions for dialogue on Kashmir issue

Srinagar, Sep 1 (ANI): Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has set down five conditions before New Delhi to facilitate a review the hardline Hurriyat Conference's ongoing agitation programme.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Geelani said: "India must agree Jammu and Kashmir is an international dispute. It must begin the process of demilitarisation. The prime minister must commit publicly and ensure no killings and arrests take place henceforth."

"The process of punishing perpetrators of state violence should begin with conviction of troops responsible for the 65 killings. This should be followed by conviction of war criminals," he added.

"If India and the Army are actually serious about solving the problem of Kashmir, so it is necessary that such violence should be stopped, and the Army should make government ready (agree) to demilitarise the area, so that there should be peace in the region," he said.

He further stated that India should immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners, and withdraw cases against youth, which are pending in the courts for the past 20 years.

Geelani maintained that if India failed to fulfil the minimum necessary conditions required for peace and resolution, mass protests would be intensified.

Meanwhile, curfew has been reimposed in Srinagar and Anantnag after police allegedly killed a boy and injured seven others, including Yasir Sheikh, a relative of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik.

The Kashmir Valley has experienced a surge of violence, leading authorities to impose frequent restrictions across the state.

Curfew was initially imposed on June 30 in parts of northern and southern Kashmir to stop demonstrations over a couple of protesters who died in police firing.

It was lifted some days later, but was again imposed as fresh violence erupted. (ANI)