Geelani calls for adopting serious approach on Kashmir

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said India and Pakistan should move beyond their traditional dialogue process and adopt a serious approach for resolving Kashmir issue.
"The present governments of India and Pakistan should come out of the traditional and customary dialogue process and adopt a serious and far sighted approach towards the final and lasting resolution of the Kashmir dispute," Geelani said in statement here.
Geelani said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif can write a new chapter in the world history by resolving Kashmir issue that will bring in peace and stability in the region.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, if willing, can write a new chapter in the history of the world and they can play an important and memorable role in making the whole South Asian region a region of peace, stability and prosperity," he said.
The unresolved Kashmir dispute is the only reason which has resulted in a wall of hatred, enmity and rivalries between the two countries, he said.
Geelani said "Kashmir is not the issue of good or bad governance so, it can neither be solved by changing the governments nor can this ulcer be treated through cosmetic measures".

Commenting on the change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir, Geelani said Kashmir is not the issue of good governance and providing better facilities which could be solved by the changing the government.
"The common minimum program on which (Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has agreed to work with his alliance partner is all about the administrative issues and it has nothing to do with the final resolution of the Kashmir issue.
"The status quo on Article 370, stage wise withdrawal of the AFSPA and releasing of few political prisoners can be a political assault of Mufti to degrade the National Conference but it can't impact the status of the Kashmir issue," he added.