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| 'India should make efforts to bring ultras to dialogue table' | | |
NEW DELHI, MAY 2
Asking separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir to have a realistic approach on the dialogue process, Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum today asked New Delhi to make efforts for bringing in militant groups to the dialogue table.
"New Delhi should ask them to join the dialogue table, I am hopeful they will come forward," Qayyum, who was in the capital to attend a conference, told PTI.
While acknowledging the "work" of militant groups in highlighting the Kashmir issue, the 84-year-old former President and Prime Minister of PoK, said "violence has played its role and it is for the dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir issue".
The senior leader, who rapped up his visit with a meeting with the Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir N N Vohra, was evasive when his attention was drawn to the recent US state department report that terror camps still existed in Pakistan and PoK.
Qayyum had a different tale to tell.
"There are no terror camps in PoK to the best of my knowledge. Possibly those who have picked up guns earlier may be living in some places but that does not mean it's a training camp," he said.
To a question whether he supported the approach of moderate Hurriat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq or that of hardliner Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Qayyum retorted back, "I support neither but a realistic approach towards the benefit of the people."
Asked about his suggestion for safe passage and general amnesty to the militants, Qayyum said that this issue was in "preliminary stages" and needs to be worked before anything concrete can be put before India and Pakistan.
About his current visit, he said, "this visit was fruitful as compared to my last visit in 2005, when I did not know when I would be thrown out. This time I met policy makers and top leadership of India including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh."
"I will go back and share New Delhi's regime with policy makers in Pakistan and PoK."
Qayyum also favoured trade activities across the Line of Control besides reducing a cumbersome procedure for the passengers travelling in bus.
"I would favour free movement of people along the Loc," he said.
Acknowledging the failure on part of the PoK leadership to provide basic human rights to people in Giglat and Baltistan, Qayyum said the struggle for giving them rights equal to that of people in PoK was on and "we would succeed soon".
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