Indo-Pak meeting receives mixed reaction in Kashmir

India and Pakistan's decision to carry on with the dialogue process drew mixed response in Kashmir today with mainstream parties welcoming it and separatists insisting that the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting was "inconclusive" without the participation of Kashmiris.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of NAM summit in Egypt and said that dialogue is the only way forward to improve ties between the two neighbours.     

"The cordial meeting between the two Prime Ministers has become historical as both the countries have agreed to delink terrorism from Indo-Pak dialogue," Omar said in a statement.     

Asserting that the agreement to discuss all outstanding issues between the two nations is a "positive understanding", Omar added the past is witness to the fact that stray incidents of terror had delayed composite dialogue as had happened after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.     

Jailed leader of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, however said that "the meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan would be inconclusive without the participation of Kashmiris".     

Yesterday's meeting at Sharm-el-Sheikh recognised that "dialogue is the only way forward" and said "action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process..."

Geelani, in the statement, said "the meeting is being projected as an important step towards the resolution of Kashmir issue but the world needs to understand that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between the two countries and it can't be resolved without the participation of Kashmiris".     

Chairman of JKLF Mohammad Yaseen Malik added "unlike the past 62 years, which saw several meetings and talks between the two countries, we hope Egypt will finally break the trend of fruitlessness of Indo-Pak talks over Kashmir".     

"It is a political issue and should be resolved as per the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are a key party and our aspirations have to be taken into consideration," Malik, who has been under house arrest since past three weeks, said.     

The Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq shared that "Kashmir has been the basic cause of tension between India and Pakistan for over 60 years and peace would continue to elude the sub-continent till this issue was resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris".     

State secretary of CPI(M) M Y Tarigami said his party "welcomes the delinking of composite dialogue from action on terrorism and hopes that bold initiatives will be taken by the leadership of both the countries to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir through sustained process of dialogue and debate".