Encouraged by the resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the separatists in Kashmir have expressed eagerness to contribute to the efforts aimed at resolving the vexed Kashmir issue. Jammu & Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Wednesday announced that the PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu & Kashmir would encourage dialogue with all stakeholders in the State including political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilections.
"Hurriyat would support any effort or dialogue process which aims to solve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with aspirations and emotions of Kashmiris", moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference said in a statement after a joint meeting of amalgam's Executive Council, General Council and Working Committee members at conglomerate's Rajbagh headquarters. The meeting was presided over by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
"The Hurriyat would stand by its constitution that Kashmir issue can be resolved through a result oriented and sustained dialogue process between the three stakeholders including Kashmiris, India and Pakistan", Mirwaiz said.
Appreciating the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan aimed to solve the Kashmir dispute including other issue as a "right step in the right direction", the representatives of various Hurriyat constituents hoped that following the foreign secretary level talks between the two neighbours, there exists every likelihood that a comprehensive and result oriented dialogue would be initiated between two countries which would announce the "beginning of new era" aimed at solving the Kashmir dispute and other issues existing between the neighbours.
"Hurriyat has always desired for friendly relations between India and Pakistan. We have always preferred serious dialogue as a means to solve the issues existing between the two nations", the statement said.
The moderate faction of Hurriyat engaged with the Central Government in a dialogue process in Vajpayee-led NDA regime in 2003 despite opposition from hardliners and militants. Even as several rounds of talks were carried out and the process was furthered by the Manmohan Singh led UPA-1, it came to a grinding halt after 26/11 in Mumbai. The Hurriyat later pulled out of the dialogue process.
Vohra in his speech to the joint session of J&K legislature reffered to the Vajpayee-led initiative. "It would be recalled that the erstwhile NDA Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had initiated a dialogue process with all political groups including the Hurriyat Conference, in the spirit of 'Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat aur Jamhooriyat," he said.
"The coalition Government would follow a similar approach to enlarge the constituency of peace and deepen its societal mooring. The coalition Government will take considered political initiatives", he said.
Interestingly, Mirwaiz will lead a high-level delegation to New Delhi to visit Pakistan igh Commission on the invitation of Pakistan High Commissioner on the eve of Pakistan Day on March 23. "The Hurriyat delegation would hold detailed deliberations with Pakistan over the resumption of dialogue with India and various other political issues connected with the Kashmir dispute", statement added.
The hardline-faction of Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani has also sent positive vibes on the resumption of dialogue process. "We will discuss the offer of dialogue (by Vohra) in the upcoming meeting of executive council", Geelani's spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.