The separatist Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir expressed concern on Wednesday over Pathankot attack and termed it as an attempt to derail the dialogue process between India and Pakistan. The statement came two days after Muzaffarabad-based grouping of Kashmiri militant outfits, United Jehad Council (UJC), claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We express our deep concern over the recent attack in Pathankot. As we have seen in the past, whenever there is a serious effort made by India and Pakistan to resolve issues, incidents like this have been taking place with the aim to derail the dialogue process”, the faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement after holding a meeting of its decision-making executive council. Mirwaiz has the distinction of engaging with the Governments of India and Pakistan in the past unlike his rival Syed Ali Geelani.
“The elements who seek to vitiate the atmosphere and derail dialogue process are working against the interests of the people of South Asia. Keeping in mind the nuclear dimension, such incidents can jeopardise the future of the region, and have the potential to trigger a serious crisis between India and Pakistan”, the statement added.
The amalgam appreciated resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan. “It is highly positive to see that these efforts have been led at the highest levels of political leadership both in India and Pakistan and that the two Prime Ministers have personally committed themselves towards the pursuit of peace,” the Hurriyat said.
Despite the challenges ahead, we urge the Prime Ministers of the two countries to carry forward with the peace efforts and dialogue process in a visionary way.