SRINAGAR, May 19: Kashmiri separatists and intellectuals on Monday called on the international community to draw up a “roadmap” to resolve the Kashmir dispute, and asserted peace would elude the region until Kashmiris are involved in talks on a final settlement.
They were taking part in a one-day seminar on “The Kashmir problem and the responsibilities of the international community”, in Srinagar.
“The international community should prepare a roadmap to resolve the issue of Kashmir in consultation with India, Pakistan and Kashmiris,” said Umar Farooq, the former head of the region’s main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
“Unless and until the international community takes interest, the Kashmir dispute will never be resolved,” he said.
“Third party intervention or participation of assistance is a must,” Farooq said, adding, “and why India is opposed to such a proposal I fail to understand.”
Bilal Lone, the son of slain moderate separatist Abdul Gani Lone, too, appealed for international intervention.
“India and Pakistan are party to the dispute only because they lay claim to the territory and actually hold it in parts,” he said.
“I personally feel the international community should intervene, or at least facilitate or supervise the dialogue between India and Pakistan,” he said.
“If that fails, the world community should resort to coercion to force parleys on the Kashmir issue.”
Another separatist, Muslim cleric Abbas Ansari, disagred.
“India and Pakistan will live in peace only when they resolve the issue of Kashmir by taking into account the wishes of the region,” said Ansari.
He opposed the drafting of an international roadmap on Kashmir, such as that drawn up by the United States for Palestine.
“There is no need for such a roadmap on Kashmir,” he said.—AFP
