Saudi mediation could resolve Kashmir issue, says Mirwaiz

All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at the Jeddah Hilton hotel on Saturday. (AN photo)

By SHAHEEN NAZAR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: A delegation of Kashmiri leaders will visit the Kingdom within a month and hold talks with Saudi officials, said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, leader of All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella organization of pro-independence groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the Hurriyat was currently deliberating on how to seek Saudi help but a concrete plan had not been prepared.

Farooq arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday to perform Umrah and his visit, two weeks after the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is significant. He denied having any meeting with Saudi officials during his three-day stay. He left for Geneva on Saturday night to attend a meeting on human rights.

Farooq welcomed the statement made in Riyadh by India’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor during Singh’s visit in which he said Saudi Arabia could be a “valuable interlocutor” in improving India’s ties with Pakistan. Although Tharoor did not mention Kashmir, many observers felt that he was talking about the Kingdom using its good offices to mediate on the contentious issue that is at the heart of the Indo-Pak dispute.

Although there was a big uproar over the statement in India forcing Tharoor to backtrack, the Kashmiri leader saw a policy shift in India vis-a-vis third-party mediation in Indo-Pak dialogue.

“Currently a rethink is going on in India. Given the strengthening of ties between India and the Kingdom, New Delhi would be more comfortable with Saudi mediation than any other country,” said the Hurriyat leader.

He said Saudi Arabia was influential not only in the Middle East but also in South Asia. “The Kingdom has a history of playing positive role in disputes, such as Afghanistan and Palestine. Kashmiris would be more than happy if the Kingdom mediated on our behalf,” he said.

Farooq said the appointment by US President Barack Obama of Farah Pandit, a Kashmiri Muslim woman, as special representative for Muslim communities, was an indication of the US administration’s approach to the Kashmir problem. He said some “back channel” dialogue was going on but refused to divulge details.

He referred to Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to South Asia, and said although his main job was to deal with the Afghan problem, Kashmir was part of his brief, which was another indication of the Obama administration’s responsive approach.

The Hurriyat leader, who heads a moderate faction of the coalition, called on India to demilitarize Kashmir and come clean on missing persons. “Nine thousand Kashmiris have been missing over the last 20 years. The mass graves discovered recently have further infuriated the people of Kashmir. They have lost faith in Indian courts and the security system. It’s time New Delhi did something to gain the confidence of Kashmiris.”

He expressed disappointment with the role of human rights organizations in India. “They have fallen into the trap of India, which, taking advantage of 9/11, has tried to link the freedom movement in Kashmir with terrorism.”

Insisting on a “political solution” to the Kashmir issue, Farooq said in the given situation, the “Musharraf formula” was workable. He was referring to Pakistan’s former President Pervez Musharraf who suggested that India and Pakistan should consider the option of identifying some “regions” of Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, demilitarize them and grant them the status of independence or joint control or under a UN mandate.

The idea floated in the past of declaring the Line of Control as an international border was “not at all workable,” he said.

Comments

AWASEEM

Report abuse
Many dialogues have been organized, including the recent ones between India and Pakistan, and the reknowned Shimla Agreement, but not actions have been taken. We have our efforts for resolution of Kashmir dispute but it remains un-addressed since the British left the sub continent in 1947. We request the Kingdom to have it's influence by participation of Hurriyat Conference to resolve this issue as per the wishes of Kashmiti People. They should be given their choice to decide their future and end anymore martyrdom.

ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Report abuse
Well, Jammu and Kashmir is an Indian State and we (Indian) does not need any third party interference in our internal matter.

SUHAIL

Report abuse
As a Kashmiri i would like to say that this matter should be resolve by a peaceful proccess and should be done soon because we are suffering from the last 20 year. we request the kingdom and other countries also to have its influence by participating in this Serious matter.

SARA AL-SHAIKH

Report abuse
Kashmir is not part of India. The people of Kashmir want freedome and they should get it. India and Pakistan both should let Kashmiris decide their own fate.

ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Report abuse
Zakir Hossain, you might not need it, but Shashi Tharoor has asked for Saudi Interference to solve the Kashmir dispute. Kashmir is disputed region hence you cannot say it is Indian state because United Nations has a resolution for Kashmir, and India is neglected it since 60 years and 600,000 troops has been deployed by India who are damaging the rights of Kashmiris.
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments