President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said that Pakistan firmly believed in a meaningful, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India that could lead to a permanent solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with aspirations of its people. He was talking to a seven-member delegation of All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by its Chairman Mir Waiz Umer Farooq here at the Bilawal House. Spokesperson to President Senator Farhatullah Babar said the president remarked that finding an amicable and just solution to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir dispute was important for Pakistan and India to ensure lasting peace, stability and development in the region. The spokesperson said the president reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to continue extending all political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri brethren in their just demand for their legitimate right. The president said the people of Kashmir had rendered huge sacrifices for upholding their dignity and freedom, pleading for equity and justice and the fulfillment of the promise for the effective exercise of their right to self-determination. APHC delegation besides its Chairman Mir Waiz Umer Farooq included Maulana Abbas Ansari Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat Muslim conference, Bilal Ghani Lone J&K Peoples Conference, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza J&K Peoples League, Agha Syed Hasan al-Moosvi J&K Anjuman-e-Shari-Shian and Mussadiq Adil J&K Peoples Political Front. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman PPP, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit – Baltistan, Malik Amad Ahmad Khan, MOS for foreign affairs, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, senior minister AJ&K, Jalil Abbas Jilani Foreign Secretary, Kamran Ali Qureshi Secretary Kashmir Affairs & GB and Ms. Nasreen Haque, Special Secretary to the President were also present during the meeting. The president recalled his meeting with Chairman APHC Mir Waiz Umer Farooq in New York in September on the sidelines of United Nation General Assembly session and said engagement with APHC leadership was a positive development and recognition of the just cause of the people of Kashmir. The president praised the efforts of the Hurriyat leadership for highlighting the case of the people of Kashmir at various international forums. The president urged the international community to focus its attention towards the troubles of Kashmiri people who have been waging a legitimate struggle for their right of self-determination for over six decades despite suffering huge losses and human rights violations. Chairman APHC Mir Waiz Mohammad Umar Farooq thanked the President for meeting the delegation and for Pakistan’s support to the people of Jammu & Kashmir in their just struggle for self-determination. Meanwhile, the seven-member Hurriyat delegation reached Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters, Nine Zero, and addressed a small gathering besides meeting the party leadership. MQM’s Nasreen Jaleel, Haider Abbas Rizvi and others met the Kashmiri leaders, pledging to support the Kashmir cause and right of self determination of people of the valley. Mirwaiz arrived in Islamabad on Saturday night to meet top Pakistani leadership reportedly to bring the Kashmir resolution at the centre of Indo-Pak co-operation in the region and to ascertain as to how Pakistan politicians think about bringing Kashmiri leadership in its otherwise bilateral engagement with New Delhi. Talking to Mr Farooq, Altaf Hussain said that Kashmir dispute should be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. He said the Kashmiri people should also be represented in all the dialogues for finding a solution of the Kashmir dispute. He said the MQM would co-operate unconditionally with the Kashmiri people.
