- News>
Better late than never, says Lone
Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s decision to invite Pakistan chief executive General Pervez Musharraf for talks and said Kashmir should be the core issue in negotiations between the two countries.
Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to invite
Pakistan chief executive General Pervez Musharraf for talks and said
Kashmir should be the core issue in negotiations between the
two countries.
''The decision, though it came late, is welcome. Better late than
never,'' Lone told a news agency.
The Hurriyat leader said the move is a good beginning towards resolving the vexed Kashmir issue. ''Pakistan's involvement in talks on the Kashmir problem is a necessity,'' he added.
Lone said the conglomerate had been demanding Islamabad's inclusion in the dialogue process. ''Now, the prime minister has taken the decision, we welcome it,'' the separatist leader added. However, the alliance favoured the resolution of the issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state, Lone said.
The talks should be meaningful and purposeful so that normalcy is be restored in the strife-torn state, the Hurriyat leader stressed.
Asked if the move was aimed at sidelining the Hurriyat Conference, he said Kashmiris were the basic party to the issue. ''India and Pakistan are involved because they have occupied our territory,'' Mr Lone said. ''We are the true representatives of the people of the state and we represent their sentiments.... Nobody can ignore us,'' he added.
On withdrawal of the cease-fire, Mr lone said the truce was never implemented on the ground. The restraint was observed for first 15-20 days and afterwards security forces committed all sorts of atrocities on the people.
Bureau Report
The Hurriyat leader said the move is a good beginning towards resolving the vexed Kashmir issue. ''Pakistan's involvement in talks on the Kashmir problem is a necessity,'' he added.
Lone said the conglomerate had been demanding Islamabad's inclusion in the dialogue process. ''Now, the prime minister has taken the decision, we welcome it,'' the separatist leader added. However, the alliance favoured the resolution of the issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state, Lone said.
The talks should be meaningful and purposeful so that normalcy is be restored in the strife-torn state, the Hurriyat leader stressed.
Asked if the move was aimed at sidelining the Hurriyat Conference, he said Kashmiris were the basic party to the issue. ''India and Pakistan are involved because they have occupied our territory,'' Mr Lone said. ''We are the true representatives of the people of the state and we represent their sentiments.... Nobody can ignore us,'' he added.
On withdrawal of the cease-fire, Mr lone said the truce was never implemented on the ground. The restraint was observed for first 15-20 days and afterwards security forces committed all sorts of atrocities on the people.
Bureau Report