Kashmir parties seek permanent observer status

The leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an umbrella group of separatist Kashmiri parties, called on the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to grant the APHC permanent observer status “providing great credibility to the voice of Kashmiri people around the world”.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was allowed to travel to Doha to attend the summit by the Indian government welcomed the statement by the ninth summit that “reaffirmed its support for the right of the people of Kashmir to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.”

The OIC “also called for appointing a special representative of the OIC secretary general” in Kashmir affairs and “for sending an OIC fact-finding mission to Jammu and Kashmir”.

Farooq who met with the Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf told Gulf News yesterday that he had emphasised the need for intra-Kashmiri dialogue during his meeting with the Pakistan leader, that is talks between Kashmiri leaders on both sides of the border.

He had told a television station prior to leaving for Doha that he would like to initiate talks with India and Pakistan separately on the issue.

In an address to the summit on Monday, Farooq urged the OIC to press both India and Pakistan to grant the APHC an equal partnership in all negotiations over Kashmir.

“The bilateral India-Pakistan formula has proven barren for half a century, and any Kashmir solution that fails to command the consensus of the Kashmir people would prove worthless,” he said in his address.

The APHC leader suggested to Gulf News that the OIC countries, “which have excellent relations with both India and Pakistan, should play a bigger role in resolving the dispute.”

Qatar has offered to play “any constructive role” in resolving the lingering Kashmir dispute, the senior Kashmiri leader said. A delegation representing APHC had a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani .

Farooq stressed that a permanent solution would not come without involving the people from both the Indian and Pakistan sides of the Himalayan state in the peace process.

“Kashmir is not just a bilateral problem between India and Pakistan and any solution without taking into account the people of the state will fail.”