Kashmir dialogue: Without taking militant leadership on board, Hurriyat may not be able to deliver much: Rashid tells GoI

Handwara:  Asking New Delhi to give up its ‘rhetoric and double standards’, AIP President Engineer Rashid has said that time is ripe for New Delhi to accept ground realities and realize that there is no shortcut to resolution of Kashmir dispute except respecting sentiments and sacrifices of people of J&K and resolving issue as per UN resolutions.

In a statement issued Rashid said that on the occasion when Home Minister of India Amit Shah is visiting Kashmir, he needs to move beyond beaten tracks.

“If Huriyat is showing its willingness for talks it should not be seen as their weakness but as an opportunity to find everlasting resolution to internationally recognized dispute. Both New Delhi and Huriyat leadership must restrain from imposing any pre-conditions for entering into dialogue process. Those trying to see Huriyat’s willingness for talks as their weakness are living in fool’s paradise as Huriyat is custodian of sacrifices and represents sentiments and sacrifices of people of J&K”.

Rashid added that the muscular policy has failed in the past when inhuman operations like catch and kill and operation tiger were tested on unarmed Kashmiris.

“All the stake holders must understand that J&K dispute is a political one and finding any military resolution will never succeed. It is time to give up ego and involve militant leadership into the meaningful dialogue process and resolve the issue once for all. Without taking militant leadership on board Huriyat may not be able to deliver much. All the three parties including militant leadership must help in creating conducive atmosphere for the meaningful dialogue”.

Rashid urged Shah to move beyond official briefing which he may get from state administration and security agencies and urged him to ensure that security forces are made accountable and honour and dignity of masses is restored.