Srinagar: The main separatist alliance in Indian administered Kashmir yesterday rejected the Indian prime minister's offer of peace talks as being nothing new.
India must repeal harsh detention laws, release hundreds of political prisoners and withdraw hundreds of thousands of army soldiers from the region before any dialogue, said Mirwaiz Omar Farouk, the chairman of the moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
While making it clear that Hurriyat was committed to a meaningful dialogue with the Centre, Farouk said the outfit was disappointed by the "circuitous approach" adopted by the Prime Minister while inviting groups other than mainstream political parties for talks.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday the government was prepared to talk to any group opposed to terrorism and violence in the region. Similar initiatives in the past failed to make any headway.
"When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves," Farouk said, citing a famous education quote. "We were hoping that there will be a direct offer for talks rather than taking a circuitous route. Kashmir is a political problem and we have to find a political solution. There can be no military solution to the Kashmir issue," the Mirwaiz.
Singh returned to New Delhi Tuesday after spending two days in Kashmir reviewing development work and the security situation. The separatists called a general strike to protest the visit.
Direct talks
The Farouk-led group had held three rounds of direct talks with the Indian government in 2004 and 2005. However, the dialogue broke down after the separatists demanded their inclusion in the India-Pakistan talks on settling the Kashmir dispute. "Hurriyat Conference is not an armed resistance group and the government of India cannot talk to us in ambiguous and uncertain terms," he said.
"We all realise that 60 years have gone by and the problem is still unaddressed. we have to dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves," he said, suggesting that the Government should make some headway in implementing a four-point programme mooted by the amalgam. The four points suggested by the Hurriyat include a commitment for upholding the human rights, gradual demilitarisation and repeal of "black laws."
