Hurriyat seeks UN intervention for `peaceful Kashmir`

Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday asked United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to prevail upon India and Pakistan to take steps for peaceful and permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"Mr Secretary General, it is our ardent hope that during your visit to Pakistan, you will use your influence to urge and prevail upon both India and Pakistan to take steps for a peaceful and permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue," Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a memorandum to Moon. The Hurriyat chairman said it is vital that the international community, especially the United Nations, has an informed and substantive engagement in Kashmir issue. "Prolonging this long standing conflict can only inflict increasing human cost not only on the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but also on the people of South Asia. Kashmir conflict has dire consequences for the 1.2 billion people living in the entire region," he said. Mirwaiz said Kashmir is a political problem and it can be resolved only through political means. "We have for long been advocating a meaningful result oriented dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. To facilitate this process, we seek the appointment of a special rapporteur of international stature. The facilitation of a special rapporteur is indispensable to help rebuild trust amongst the stakeholders and reinstate their confidence in the processes of dialogue," he added. The Hurriyat leader said this was needed in the light of the recent incidents along the Line of Control. Among the steps suggested by the separatist leader are withdrawal of armed forces from civilian areas, release of political detunes and repeal of all "repressive and draconian laws". PTI