MUZAFFARABAD: Former Norwegian prime minister and Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights head Kjell Magne Bondevik on Sunday stressed the need for early resolution of Kashmir issue in the interest of humanity and lasting peace of South Asia.
“The Kashmir issue is almost 70 years old and is not affordable because human beings in the region are suffering,” Bondevik said in a media briefing after meeting with Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) President, Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan and a delegation of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) AJK Chapter at President House.
He said that he visited this part of Kashmir last year and has recently returned after a thorough visit of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and New Delhi which was an expression of his commitment and association with Kashmir issue and the people who were suffering there.
The Norwegian leader said that he had extensive talks with all stakeholders in IOK, including political leaders, while he also met with high Indian officials in New Delhi and got updates of the human rights situation.
He said he also met with Shankar Acharya and discussed the human rights situation in IOK.
“I think Shanker is a peace-loving person and will do his best to move forward for the resolution of Kashmir issue peacefully through tripartite dialogue,” Bondevik added.
“I do not talk about the ways of a solution but discussed a four-point formula for the resolution of the issue presented by former Pakistani president General (r) Pervez Musharaf with some stakeholders,” he informed.
Bondevik said that soon after his arrival in Islamabad, he went to AJK to discuss the situation with the leadership, adding that he would also visit the Line of Control (LoC) to get updates about the people suffering due to cross-border firing. He said that he would also meet Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quraishi and other relevant high officials in Islamabad in this regard.