- Gilani hopes Pakistan will remain firm on Kashmir
SRINAGAR, December 15: In occupied Kashmir, senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and the Patron of Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement (JKMM), Farida Bahenji, have said that durable peace in South Asia cannot be established without settling the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.Shabbir Ahmed Shah in a statement issued in Srinagar said that sidelining the Kashmir dispute in the dialogue between Pakistan and India would complicate the issues instead of resolving them. “To put the Kashmir issue at backburner will obviously complicate the issues and as such, the dialogue process cannot move forward,” said Shabbir Shah, who continues to be under house arrest.Farida Bahenji in a statement issued in Srinagar said that peace in South was linked with settlement of the Kashmir dispute. She said that without involvement of Kashmiri representatives, talks would remain inconclusive.
Meanwhile, the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has hoped that Pakistan will maintain consistency and firmness in its policy on Jammu and Kashmir, come what may.Syed Ali Gilani expressed these views in a message conveyed to the Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit through a two-member delegation that met him in New Delhi. A statement issued by the Gilani-led forum in Srinagar said that the delegation apprised the Pakistani High Commissioner about the present situation in occupied Kashmir.-KMS