Repression will not resolve Kashmir issue: Mirwaiz

His remarks came amid the sharp increase in the killing of militants by the security forces in the recent weeks.

Srinagar, Aug 18: Asserting that use of force was not the solution, Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday claimed that killing of militants by the security forces will not help resolve the Kashmir issue.

"Each day, young educated boys are being killed and there is a belief in some that once all of them are killed, the problem will be over. But they forget that these boys took to arms as a reaction to repression and for the resolution of the dispute," Mirwaiz said in his Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

The Hurriyat leader, who was allowed by authorities to visit Jamia Masjid after eight weeks, said, "as long as there is repression and force as a state response, you may kill one, ten more will stand up. So killing them (militants) will not kill the sentiment as is evident during their funeral prayers."

His remarks came amid the sharp increase in the killing of militants by the security forces in the recent weeks. Umar Farooq also said that "persecution of the (separatist) leadership through so-called investigations and spreading lies and creating a huge propaganda through print, electronic and even social media against them will also prove futile as people of Kashmir know such ploys and do not buy them. It will only worsen and complicate matters further."

The Mirwaiz said people of Jammu Kashmir are awaiting the final resolution of the issue so that uncertainty could be ended.

"I once again appeal to all people in India to see Kashmir not as a piece of real estate nor as a territorial dispute between two hostile neighbours but as a human issue concerning hundreds of thousands of people and divided families hanging fire for the last 70 years," the separatist leader added.

PTI