Hizbul chief sets conditions for Kashmir talks with govt
SRINAGAR: UNITED Jehad Council (UJC) chairman Syed Salahuddin has set pre-conditions for a dialogue with the Union government to resolve Kashmir issue.
As per the statement issued to a local news agency, Salahuddin, while addressing a gathering in the Pakistan-occupied-kashmir’s capital Muzaffarabad, said UJC will cooperate and support the dialogue process only if “India accepts Kashmir as a dispute and resolves it in the light of UN resolutions”.
He was referring to the Centre’s recent decision to suspend operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan and the subsequent call for talks. Salahuddin, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen said the steps initiated by the PM Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh will materialise only when “India will show honesty, seriousness and character”.
“India has wounded the hearts of Kashmiri people to an extent that none is going to believe in India’s phoney war. If India is really sincere about dialogue then it should respect the aspirations of people of J&K,” the UJC chairman reportedly said.
The UJC is the umbrella body of several militant organisations active in Kashmir.
Early in May, the Bjp-led National Democratic Alliance called off security operations in the restive state to allow people to observe Ramzan, which started from May 17, peacefully. The suspension of operations was followed by a call from the home minister for a dialogue with separatist leaders.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership, responded positively to the call. The leaders said they were ready for the dialogue provided there was clarity on what would be the agenda for the talks.