Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq hailed Pakistan and its people for supporting the Kashmir cause.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday he said that “Pakistan has consistently supported the rightful struggle of Kashmiris”. He termed Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir as appreciative and bold. He added that “as Kashmir continued to bleed and suffer on all fronts for demanding right to self determination Pakistan introduced Kashmir dispute to the global community and left no stone unturned to garner support from the world to resolve the issue” . Mirwaiz said that Pakistan has fought several wars for the lasting resolution of Kashmir issue and thanked Pakistan and its people for lending unconditional support for the Kashmir cause. He said that Hurriyat has always advocated good relations between India and Pakistan
Mirwaiz said that till India won’t take bold political steps and formulates a Kashmir policy keeping in view the historical realities, the instability and tension would continue to prevail in south Asia.
Meanwhile fresh LOC tensions have begot the possibility of fresh round of talks between the government of India and Hurriyat Conference (M) in near future. Sources in Hurriyat said that their leaders were expecting a fresh formal invitation from New Delhi after their Pakistan visit. Tensions are already mounting in the power circles of Delhi regarding engaging the Hurriyat in a dialogue since BJP considers it a separatist movement biased towards Pakistan and BJP has been crying hoax over the recent beheading of Indian soldiers deployed at LOC.
New Delhi had stopped talking to Kashmiri separatists after they refused to take part in the round table conference (RTC) convened by prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh here on May 24 and 25, 2006. At the end of RTC, Dr Singh while addressing a press conference had described as “unfortunate” Hurriyat (M) not participating “despite its leaders having given an indication to take part.” However, during the 2010 civilian unrest, some non- Congress and non-BJP members of an all party parliamentary delegation visited the residences of senior separatist leaders and held talks with them. During the talks, the Hurriyat (M) leaders made some suggestions for changing the situation on ground and creating a conducive environment for talks. The suggestions included repealing all draconian laws, gradual withdrawal of troops from civilian areas, end to human rights, and release of all political prisoners.
Presently, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat (M), is in New Delhi. However, the insiders in the faction insist that he is there with his family and not on any political mission. According to them, Hurriyat (M) is not in a hurry for talks with government of India in view of the changed Indo-Pak scenario. Umar has been reported to have said that he would never enter into discussion with India if him doing so annoys Pakistan.