Separatists dismiss Russia dialogue; say India, Pak PMs should focus on Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 10: With the exception of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, most separatists today said the joint statement by the Indian and Pakistan prime ministers had come as a "disappointment" for the people of Kashmir and that their meeting in Russia was in keeping with "diplomatic compulsion".

"We did not expect any breakthrough from the meeting. It was just a diplomatic compulsion for the prime ministers of the two countries," Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, told PTI.

He said that instead of such meetings, where a wide range of issues are discussed, the two countries should focus on the core issue of Kashmir.

"Our stand is clear; they (India, Pakistan) should both concentrate on the core issue and resolve Kashmir. Till Kashmir issue is addressed, such talks will be futile. They will be disappointing," he said.

Akbar said "there is nothing new" in the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

"These have been going on and such meetings are not result-oriented," he added.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik termed the process "futile" and said the joint statement had disappointed the people of Kashmir.

"Issues and conflicts can only be resolved through dialogue. But the way this process has been turned futile and non-serious in case of Jammu and Kashmir has created doubts in the minds of common people and the people of the state have lost faith in this institution.

"The joint declaration issued after the meeting has disappointed Kashmiris," he said.

War cannot end problems and dialogue is the only way to resolve conflicts and issues, Malik said. He added, however, that "for the success of dialogue, it is equally important to have seriousness and focus on conflict resolution".

PTI