Aziz-separatists meet: Guns can solve Kashmir issue, says Geelani

A day after meeting Pak PM Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on security and foreign relations Sartaj Aziz, separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Tuesday spouted venoum on the Kashmir issue.

Zee Media Bureau/Sushmita Dutta

Srinagar: A day after meeting Pakistan Pime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on security and foreign relations, Sartaj Aziz, separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Tuesday spat venom over the Kashmir issue. While reiterating his stand on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Geelani said, “Guns can be a permanent solution for J&K.” As per news reports, Geelani said to a local news agency KNS, "When India was fighting against the British rule, on one side (Mahatma) Gandhi propagated peaceful struggle and on other hand, there was Bhagat Singh, who used violent means to achieve the freedom. India accepts Bhagat Singh as a martyr." Earlier, the separatist leader had said that guns could be a permanent solution for solving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan. The senior Hurriyat and JKLF leaders met with Aziz in the national capital on Sunday evening and had discussed with them on the J&K’s latest political developments, the situation on the LoC and the International Border, besides India-Pakistan relations. The meeting immediately stoke a controversy as it came at a time when border tensions are brewing between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the cornered Geelani, after facing backlash over his controversial statement, took a U-turn and said: "Guns could be one of the options for permanent solution of the Kashmir issue besides other political means."