Hurriyat Conference on Friday voiced its dismay at India and Pakistan not making much headway at the talks between their foreign ministers, saying the outcome has left people in the Kashmir valley "disappointed."
Kashmir remained the biggest hurdle in relations between India and Pakistan and it should top the agenda of any talks between the two countries, moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said on Friday.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction, was put under house arrest and prohibitory orders clamped in Srinagar on Saturday as separatists called a strike against the visit of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to Jammu.They said the step was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent the Hurriyat leader from visiting Shopian, 55 kms from Srinagar, to take part in a protest to mark the first anniversary of the alleged rape and murder of two young women.
An Amnesty International team, on a week-long visit to Kashmir valley to assess the situation on the human rights front, on Tuesday met a number of separatist leaders.
Hurriyat's moderate faction led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said on Saturday that it was ready for talks with the Centre for resolution of Kashmir issue, but that the back channels had "fallen silent" for the past two months.
Mirwaiz also alleged that 'human rights violations by security forces' are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir and there is an urgent need to put an end to them.
Pakistan has assured that it would not put the core issue of Kashmir on the backburner, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said on Friday.
Ahead of his talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir will be meeting leaders of various separatist outfits from Kashmir over the next two days.
Altogether 45 participants from India and Pakistan, including retired generals, former bureaucrats, journalists and politicians are participating in the three-day meet on Kashmir.
After the meeting with the Pak PM, separatist leaders admitted that differences persisted.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, on Tuesday demanded the immediate withdrawal of security forces from the Kashmir Valley. Addressing a mammoth gathering of over 1,00,000 people at Srinagar's Tourists Reception Centre Grounds along with fellow leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabbir Shah and Yasin Malik, Geelani laid down its immediate demand: The withdrawal of security forces.
Rejecting the Central Bureau of Investigation's report, the moderate Hurriyat Conference on Friday demanded an international probe into the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian. "We demand an international probe into the Shopian double rape and murder case to unveil the truth and the government of India should have no objection if the CBI report was based on facts," Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today.
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Friday claimed that the initiative of the separatist amalgam for "trilateral talks" with India and Pakistan has been received well in Islamabad.
Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, deliberately chose the national day of Kashmir on Monday to protest against the Centre -- for not including the people of the state in finding out an amicable solution to the Jammu and Kashmir problem by holding talks with Pakistan.
A Bengaluru blast suspect, hiding in Ajmer for the past two months, was arrested by the Karnataka Intelligence Bureau with the help of Government Railway Police, a senior GRP official said on Saturday.
The meeting presided over by APHC chairman Moulvi Mohammad Abbas Ansari is being attended by all senior members, including executive members Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone, Hurriyat sources said.
Musharraf assured the delegation that any resolution of the Kashmir issue will be finalised only after ascertaining the wishes of the the Kashmiri people. \n
Ahead of its Pakistan visit from Monday, separatist outfit Hurriyat Conference Sunday said it will discuss the Kashmir issue with President Pervez Musharraf and other Pakistan leaders.
Accusing the UN of working under the influence of America the Hurriyat faction alleged that in the name of fighting terrorism, terror acts were taking place in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Kashmir. Today when the world is observing the anniversary of the United Nations, Hurriyat wants to clarify to its General Secretary that resolution of the Kashmir issue held the key to peace in the South Asian region.
'Dr Singh reached out to Pakistan when he said he hopes to have a cordial relations with the neighbouring country but he did not reach out to the people of Kashmir. It is rather unfortunate,' says Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooz
Authorities on Thursday booked hard-line Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani under the stringent Public Safety Act and placed moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house arrest to foil their planned all-party meet to chalk out the future course of action. "We have booked him (Geelani) under PSA. There are a good number of grounds (for detention) against Geelani. I have signed the PSA warrant against Geelani and as per the orders," said the DM.
The Shia organisation had previously sided with the hardline leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had asked the non-Kashmiri work force to leave the valley after the rape-and-murder of 14-year-old Tabinda Jan in Langate area of Kupwara district in which 2 labourers were allegedly involved.
The Centre is acting tough with Kashmir's separatist leaders by taking on their foreigner wives, refusing them to stay with their husbands in Jammu and Kashmir.
Musharraf's proposals of demilitarisation, self governance and joint management could provide a foundation for the resolution of the Kashmir issue after appropriate amendments, Farooq said.
A three-member moderate Hurriyat Conference delegation, led by chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, would leave New Delhi on a five-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday.
Former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who along with another moderate leader Abdul Gani Bhat, attended the two-hour meeting, said such interactions should increase and similar meetings should be held in Muzaffarabad, Srinagar and Jammu.
The Mirwaiz has accused Dr Singh of not living up to the promises he made.
The Hurriyat leader has initiated some steps for return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and held talks with their representatives in this regard.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of All-Party Hurriyat Conference, has claimed that on July 13, the country will witness one of the biggest peaceful protests in their struggle for resolution of problem of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nasir was arrested along with two prominent businessmen.
Supporting the India-Pakistan talks and peace process, he said dialogue was imperative but there should be the world community's involvement at a certain level to reach a solution acceptable to all the parties concerned.
Hurriyat in touch with Kashmiri Pandits
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