Move a shot in the arm for Hurriyat
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEADER FAROOQ ABDULLAH SAID “HIS PARTY HAS BEEN A STRONG VOTARY AND ADVOCATE OF SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN NEW DELHI AND ISLAMABAD’’
SRINAGAR: Early this year when Hurriyat Conference — an amalgam of separatist outfits went for a third split in 20 years, the news did not even make to most national newspapers. The split left the separatists weaker and more divided than before.
Besides finding very few takers for their political boycott, the fact remains there has been no fresh recruitment to the Hurriyat ranks ever since it was formed in 1993.
In August, separatist leaders went ahead with their proposed meeting with Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit in spite of strong objections from the Central government. The meetings which have been a long standing practice everytime India and Pakistan head for a dialogue or even on celebrations like Pakistan Day, were abruptly given more importance. The decision to make them a reason to call off the dialogue process has not gone down well with even the mainstream political parties.
While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, Tuesday, said there is no option other than peace in South Asia which can be achieved only through dialogue and reconciliation. In a statement National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said “his party has been a strong votary and advocate of sustained engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad.’’
Talking to HT, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said his faction of hurriyat has maintained a political solution is the only option for resolution of Kashmir. “There can be no military or economic solution. So we see no reason why the government of India is not allowing something that has been happening for last 20 years,” he asked.