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K S R Menon in Sharjah
In a significant development, Kashmiri leaders from both sides of Line of Control met in Sharjah for the first time in several years and expressed optimism that the Kashmir issue can be solved through dialogue.
Two senior Hurriyat Conference leaders -- former chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone -- held preliminary discussions on Kashmir with Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, chairman of the Kashmir Committee set up by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
While Qayoom Khan utilised a press conference on Tuesday mostly to slam India for alleged human rights excesses and repression in Kashmir, Lone was less into India-baiting and more into the possibilities he saw for the success of peaceful dialogue.
The talks between the Kashmiri leaders from both sides was only a preliminary step, Lone said.
"This is only the first step. We had broad discussions and we do not get such an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. We will go back and take the ideas we discussed here to our respective governments so that violence in Kashmir can end," Lone and Khan told the press conference.
Khan said Mirwaiz could not come to the press conference because of health reasons.
Lone said the Hurriyat wanted self-determination in Kashmir, but had placed other options before the Indian government.
"If the government is not ready to allow self determination, the alternative is they should be ready to settle the dispute through meaningful dialogue involving all parties concerned," he said.
He added that New Delhi should facilitate issuing of travel documents to Kashmiri leaders so that they can travel freely to meet with Kashmiri leaders from across the border.
Khan also favoured involvement by a third party like the UN or other friendly countries to join the dialogue.
When Lone said Kashmiri struggle was a freedom struggle, he was asked if that meant he was not in favour of acceding to Pakistan.
"How did you derive that from what I said?" he said, without answering the question.
Lone said Hurriyat would not take part in the forthcoming assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The Hurriyat has decided not to take part in the election. And we stick to that stand even now," he said.
He dismissed the suggestion put forward earlier by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that the Line of Control be recognised as permanent border as a solution to the dispute. "That is no solution," he said.
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