Mirwaiz hopes Kashmir peace talks will resume after elections

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq today voiced hope that the peace dialogue will resume after the general elections and said the amalgam would support the process to resolve the Kashmir issue if the Centre shows "sincerity".

Speaking at a seminar here, he said "after the polls a new government will be formed, the peace process will move forward and talks will be held".

"The people should have a belief that whenever their leadership joins the process of talks, which is a part of our resistance, their wishes and aspirations would be represented," the Mirwaiz said.

However, he said to create an environment for the process to move forward, the Centre should have the willingness to resolve the issue at a political level and withdraw laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

"There should be seriousness and sincerity which so far have been lacking," he said.

The Mirwaiz asserted that the Kashmir issue was a political problem and not a religious or geographical one.

"It is the constitutional stand of Hurriyat Conference that Kashmir is a political problem and not a religious or geographical one. It has a human aspect associated with wishes and aspirations of the people. We will support any process to take the issue towards its resolution, be it dialogue or Confidence Building Measures," he said.

The separatist leader said resistance "does not mean calling for strikes or protests everyday".

He also talked about alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.