Srinagar
In a significant message which can pave the way for future engagement between Kashmir separatists and Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the “resistance leadership” wants to “act as a bridge” between the people of India and Pakistan and supports every such process which is aimed at resolving all outstanding issues between the two neighbours, including the long-pending Kashmir dispute.

Sharma today landed in Jammu after spending three days in Kashmir, meeting various delegations and mainstream political leaders.

The statement assumes significance as the joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar and Yasin Malik has so far remained aloof from the dialogue process, refusing to talk to Dineshwar Sharma while he was in Srinagar.

“The Hurriyat is not against peace and meaningful dialogue process, but the stubborn attitude and unyielding position of India has proved a biggest hurdle in its way,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today told visiting Bosnian ambassador Sobit Subasic, who called on the separatist leader at his Nigeen residence.

“The long-pending dispute of Kashmir has resulted in bloody wars between India and Pakistan and today also the two neighbours are in a confrontational mode. Everyday lives are lost on both sides of the LoC due to skirmishes,” Mirwaiz told the visiting dignitary, a statement from Hurriyat said. Mirwaiz told the envoy that the “resistance leadership” was neither against peace nor against “meaningful dialogue process” as it wanted peace to prevail not only in Kashmir but in the entire South Asian region. “But to achieve this, the Kashmir issue needs to be resolved as per the wishes and aspirations of its people. In this regard, concrete steps need to be taken”, Mirwaiz suggested, adding that the Hurriyat had “always reiterated” that it wanted to “act as a bridge” between the people of India and Pakistan.

“The resistance leadership supports every such process aimed at resolving all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute,” Mirwaiz told the visiting ambassador, who said that his country understood the “pain and suffering” of the Kashmiri people as their nation too had passed through “such phases”.