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Senior separatist leader and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah, who played host to central interlocutor K C Pant at the former's residence, is highly disappointed with Union External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh's recent statement calling 'Kashmir an integral part of India'.
Shabir was specially disappointed with the timing of the statement, when he feels the Centre should work for creating the right atmosphere for meaningful dialogue on Kashmir.
He said, "The whole world is pressing the two countries for meaningful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. Kashmir is a nuclear flashpoint," Shah told newsmen after an hour-long meeting with Pant at his residence, where the authorities had made tight security arrangements.
Shah said that a conducive atmosphere hass to be created for meaningful talks, which will lead to tripartite talks for final resolution of the issue.
Shah submitted a memorandum to Pant, in which the senior separatist leader, also known as the 'Nelson Mandela of Kashmir' for his long incarceration of 22 years, "stressed the need to create a conducive atmosphere for meaningful talks".
Shah has demanded an "immediate halt to the security force's atrocities in Kashmir".
He "wanted narrowly conceived perceptions to be abandoned so that the high road to peace yields itself to sight. Needless to mention that without involving the third party to the dispute, mist will continue to hover over the high road to peace and obliterate it from the view."
Shah hoped that in due course the "dialogue will become comprehensive".
He said, "Withdrawal of the ceasefire gave a negative impression and did not go well with India's invitation to Pakistan chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf, but now that the dialogue has been started at the highest level, it is necessary to evolve a follow-up policy so that the process does not face rough sea."
On Jaswant Singh's statement and its timing, Pant told reporters at Shabir's residence, "It is a statement of facts. It is no news to anybody. Everyone knows India's views."
"There is no room for annoyance. The Pakistan High Commissioner has been issuing all kinds of statements in the last few days. A timing has to be observed by all sides."
He, however, said, ''Dialogue is important to understand each others points of view."
"Dialogue is a long process, not an event. We have accepted different points of view to arrive at a consensus through discussion."
PTI adds: Leaders of the Qoumi Mashawrati Council, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Amanullah faction, also met Pant and discussed the situation in the state.
''We briefed him about the stand of QMC and told him that while solving the Kashmir issue the wishes of the local people should be taken care of,'' Hyder Hijazi, convenor of the council and senior JKLF (Aman) leader told reporters.
On whether he had the mandate from Amanullah Khan, the Pakistan-based leader of JKLF, to meet Pant, Hyder said "Yes, of course, I had talked to him and sought his permission".
He was accompanied by Secretary General of the Council, G R Wanig and council member Mohammad Shafi Advocate during the meeting with Pant.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of the Hurriyat Conference Tuesday began its meeting to discuss the latest situation following New Delhi's invitation to Musharraf for talks.
The statement of Singh that Jammu an Kashmir is an integral part of India and the ongoing visit of Pant to the valley will also come up for discussions during the meeting of the committee, which is the highest decision-making body of the 23-party alliance, a Hurriyat spokesman said.
All seven executive members of the Hurriyat are attending the meeting at the party headquarters at Rajbagh, he said.
The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage
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