RAWALPINDI: Dialogue is the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue and there will be no war because of tension

on the LoC.

These views were expressed by leaders of Pakistan, AJK and held Kashmir while answering the questions of Hamid Mir, the host of Geo News special transmission Jeeney Do Kashmir Ko. Those who took part in the transmission were MQMs Farooq Sattar, PTIs Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ch Birjees Tahir, AJK Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed, AJK JI amir Abdul Rashid Turabi, J&K Liberation Front leader from held Kashmir Yasin Malik, leader of the Hurriyat Conference in held Kashmir Mir Waiz Umer Farooq, as well as the former foreign secretary of India, Salman Haider from New Delhi.

Ch Abdul Majeed ruled out peace in South Asia till the Kashmir issue is resolved. The incessant violation of the LoC is only because of elections in India. Kashmiris reject any Pervez Musharraf-like formula on Kashmir.

Former foreign secretary of India Salman Haider said that strife on the LoC may not lead to war but it can intensify tensions. Birjees Tahir said that India should honour UN resolutions and hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. He added that 27th October is a black day for humanity and the so-called champion of democracy India should stop genocide in Kashmir.

The first question put by Hamid Mir was: Who is responsible for the non-resolution of the Kashmir issue. Farooq Sattar said that India cannot wriggle out of its commitment made to the UN in 1948 and 1950.

Yasin Malik and Abdul Rashid Turabi both held India responsible for the state of affairs. Asad Umar said that Pakistan too has to share part of the blame. Similarly the UN too has failed to assert itself. However, on the whole India is to blame for that.

Salman Haider said that both Pakistan and India are to blame for that. Back channel diplomacy a few years back had almost succeeded in finding some solution and this channel should be revived.

Mir Waiz Umer Farooq said that the militaristic approach of India is the biggest impediment in the way of the solution of the issue. The world community too has not come up to the expectations of the Kashmiris.

Ch Abdul Majeed said that Pakistan had adopted an apologetic attitude towards India which is squarely responsible for the situation. Birjees Tahir said that India has enslaved Kashmiris and the entire responsibility of the non-resolution of the Kashmir issues lies with India.

The second question put by Hamid Mir was: Has the element of violence been beneficial or harmful to the cause of Kashmiris? Ch Abdul Majeed said, We are against violence of any kind. But if there is carnage of freedom seekers, when rapes are committed on a mass scale and when even children are put to the sword, no one can bear this tyranny and will rise fully to resist such aggression. We tried to resist in 1988 and then in 1994 but my 600 companions were slaughtered. Even in 2008 hundreds of Kashmiris were martyred.

Farooq Sattar said that the element of violence is introduced by the state itself. Birjees Tahir said that India brought violence in the Kashmir movement. What India terms violence is in fact the resistance of Kashmiris against tyranny.

Abdul Rashid Turabi said that it is not violence but the spirit of resistance of Kashmiris against cruelty. Salman Haider said that violence is benefiting only those who do not want peace between the two neighbours.

Asad Umar said that the mistakes of the Pakistan government, particularly the Kargil misadventure, have done great harm to the Kashmir cause. The role played by the Pakistani establishment in the freedom movement went against the Kashmiris.

Mir Waiz Umar Farooq said that Kashmir is a political issue and not a war between Muslims and India. The Kashmir movement got a military hue only because of political circumstances. He said that the voice of the Kashmiris was gagged and they were not

allowed to go to the assemblies. Now the Kashmiris have initiated a peaceful movement but again it is being met with firing and cruelty.

The third question of Hamid Mir was: How do you view the request made by PM Nawaz Sharif to intervene for the resolution of the Kashmir issue? Ch Abdul Majeed said that Nawaz Sharif has spoken the language of Pakistanis and Kashmiris.

Yasin Malik said that the world has adopted a criminal silence over the massacre of Kashmiris. It is their moral responsibility to use their influence to solve the problem. The world must prevail upon both the countries to hold a dialogue and solve the problem in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris.

Farooq Sattar said that the Kashmir is the incomplete agenda of the partition of India and Pakistan. It is the moral duty of British imperialism to complete this agenda. Abdul Rashid Turabi said that Nawaz Sharif has done a right thing to remind the US of its moral obligations.

Birjees Tahir said that Pakistan can forcibly ask its strategic partner to intervene in Kashmir and hold a plebiscite there. Salman Haider disagreed with this and said that US would never come forward for this purpose. Nawaz Sharifs request for US help has not sent a good message to India. Both the countries should sit together and resolve the issue between themselves.

Mir Waiz Umar Farooq said that presently Afghanistan is the top priority of the US and it would be unfair to confuse Kashmir with Afghanistan. Asad Umar was of the view that the PM did not do anything good by seeking US intervention. They have doubts about the impartiality of the US. Instead they should call for arbitration by the UN.

The fourth question put forth by Hamid Mir was: Talks or war: what is the solution to Kashmir? Ch Abdul Majeed said that the solution to the issue is possible only through talks. War does not solve problems. However, if one continues denying the rights of the people, even a worm will react. In that case peace would be a far-fetched proposition.

Farooq Sattar said that the issue can be solved only through purposeful, meaningful and serious negotiations. Birjees Tahir said that there is no use of cosmetic talks. Abdul Rashid Turabi said that India is leading the situation to war and if talks are held they should be held in a pre-determined framework.

Asad Umar said that freedom movements cannot be quelled by violence. Only talks can solve the problems. Mir Waiz Umar Farooq said that Kashmiris do not want either violence or war, but want a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir problem.

The fifth question put by Hamid Mir was: Why is Kashmir important for Pakistan? Farooq Sattar said that the most important are the Kashmiris followed by water. Abdul Rashid Turabi said that Pakistan should support the Kashmiris on principle. The freedom of Kashmir is the demand of Pakistans integrity.

Asad Umar said, Basically Kashmir is a human problem. Kashmiris are our brothers and it is our ideological duty to stand by them. Birjees Tahir said that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir. Ch Abdul Majeed said that Pakistan talks of the rights of 17.5 million Kashmiris. We love our Kashmiri brethren and the economy and water occupy only a secondary position.