Kashmir Committee Meeting: JUI-F chief urges fresh talks on disputed territory

Says the valley can act as a bridge for peace.

ISLAMABAD:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday urged India to withdraw its ‘unfinished agenda’ on the issue of Kashmir and resume fresh talks to resolve the decades-long dispute.

Fazl, who is the chairman of the special parliamentary committee on Kashmir, also asked the Pakistani leadership to review its policy to pave the way for fresh dialogue on Indian administered Kashmir.

“New Delhi should fulfill its promise for effectively exercising the rights of Kahmiris, as envisaged in the relevant United Nations’ resolutions,” Fazl said, during a meeting of the committee. “Concepts of talks, mediation and military strategies should be defined on the dialogue table,” he said, adding that ,“the Kashmir valley can act as a bridge for peace between the neighbours.”

Fazl said that Kashmir’s cause  suffered a major blow from America’s so-called war on terror in 2001. “The PPP should convey its message to the Indian Congress regarding the reservations of Kashmiri people. The valley has always safeguarded Pakistan’s interests and its people never wanted the country to sacrifice its interests for their sake.”

All religious political parties want good relations with India and issues need to be addressed via meaningful dialogues, Fazl added. “We support the cause of Kashmiris, not terrorism in the region.”

Fazl said these parties have renewed their unswerving support for the just struggle of Kashmiris and for the realisation of their fundamental rights. The JUI-F chief criticised the Indian army for violating human rights in the war-torn valley. “The fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied since 1947.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2012.