Mirwaiz to discuss Kashmir issue with Pak envoy

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday said he intends to inquire whether India and Pakistan are including Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) for Kashmir in their talks or not.

Ahead of his meeting with Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit,, Farooq told ANI he is happy that India and Pakistan are initiating talks, adding that the meeting between the Foreign Ministers was a good omen for the two nations but his query is whether the estranged neighbors are thinking of Kashmir's welfare or not.

"I am going to meet Pakistan's High Commissioner and would like to ask whether both nations are having talks specifically on Kashmir and its Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), removal of AFSPA and safeguard of human rights of Kashmiri people, all in all I want to inquire that are Kashmir related issues being picked up by both nations," Farooq said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Basit said the talks between India and Pakistan with 'sovereign equality' will help in bettering ties and added that resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue was also crucial to the issue.

"Pakistan has always made efforts for a better relation with India and we continue to do so. But this is only possible when we (India-Pakistan) talk with sovereign equality. We also have to solve the Jammu-Kashmir issue so that relation between the two nations is strengthened," Basit said while speaking at the 'Pakistan Day' function at its High Commission in the national capital.