November 23, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: All-Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq on Saturday welcomed the Kashmir-specific comments of President Asif Ali Zardari during his televised conference.

In a telephonic interview to a private television channel, the APHC chairman termed President Zardari’s comments very encouraging.

The president had made a perceptive assessment of the situation by saying that durable relations between India and Pakistan could be possible only when the issue of Kashmir was resolved amicably, he said.

He said the president had advocated the inclusion of Kashmiri people in efforts for the solution of the dispute, adding this reflected aspirations of the people.

The APHC chief said that Kashmir was not a border disputed between two countries. It related to the fate of 14 million people in the region and the president had rightly advocated their inclusion in the process.

He said that President Zardari had rightly said that if the people of India and Pakistan put pressure on their leadership, an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue could be found.

Mr Farooq said that participants of the conference were literate and intelligent and their attitude reflected that they were in agreement that Kashmir was the core issue between India and Pakistan and peace and prosperity in the region was only possible when this issue was addressed.

“We feel that Pakistan’s approach on Kashmir is positive and India should reciprocate it,” the APHC chairman said.

The fact is that the issue of Kashmir would never be settled through the use of force, Mr Omar said, adding that President Zardari had shown good direction to India for regional peace and prosperity.

He said if Kashmiris were included in the peace process, they could serve as bridge to bring India and Pakistan closer.

He said some recent developments, especially US President-elect Barrack Obama’s comments, had once again brought the issue of Kashmir at the screen of international radars.

“It is ripe time for India to realise that Kashmir is not its internal issue and the world community wants an amicable solution to this dispute.”—APP