MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 3: APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday reiterated the Kashmiris’ willingness to talk on all options to resolve the dispute but rejected the idea of converting the Line of Control into permanent border.

He was speaking at a reception hosted by Prime Minister of AJK Sardar Sikandar Hayat here.

The Mirwaiz is leading a three-member delegation of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) from Indian-occupied Kashmir.

He said no Kashmiri, whether in or outside the fold of the APHC, would go along with the idea of converting LoC into permanent border.

“All other options can be considered except status quo and conversion of the ceasefire line.”

The Mirwaiz said they would also discuss their ideas and proposals with the AJK and Pakistani leadership, including President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Earlier, he underscored the humanitarian characteristic of the Kashmir dispute as the APHC team toured the earthquake-hit capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and visited an earthquake relief camp.

“This earthquake has once again highlighted the humanitarian aspect of Kashmir problem. It is now being acknowledged at the international level that Kashmir is more than a political issue. People are divided, families are divided and their pain and agony should end,” said APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a brief question-answer session at the Thuri camp.

Former APHC chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Ghani Lone accompanied him on the occasion.

“The APHC is doing its level best to work out a solution where there is re-integration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and not its division,” the Mirwaiz said.

He praised the courage and resilience of the quake victims and said he felt proud of the way the people had braved huge material and physical losses.

Speaking at the reception by the AJK prime minister, the Mirwaiz regretted that LoC restrictions kept Kashmiris away while the whole world reached to the rescue of the people in the earthquake-hit areas.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq blamed India for the delay in their visit.

“Is it not ironical that at a time when distances are shrinking and borders are softening, Kashmiris are still unable to reach each other even in their times of grief and sorrow,” he said.

The audience included AJK President Sardar Anwar Khan, Peoples Party AJK president Sahibzada Mohammad Ishaq Zaffar, members of AJK cabinet and assembly and civil officials.

“We travelled through the international border as India did not allow us to travel through the ceasefire-line for which we had submitted our documents right after the earthquake and our volunteers and relief material was also ready.”

He said the people of the occupied Kashmir wanted to help their quake-hit brothers in the AJK despite having suffered the same trauma themselves.

“Today our voice is more powerful and is more acceptable at the international level.”

He stressed that there should be a continuity in the meetings of Kashmiri leadership from both sides of the divide so that they could update the two governments involved in the longstanding conflict.

The Mirwaiz also recalled his previous visit to the city as member of a nine-member delegation that travelled to Pakistan and AJK by the historic trans-LoC bus service in June last year

“We can never forget the stirring reception ... I am sure this town will be rebuilt and will regain its splendour,” he said.

Welcoming the visitors the AJK premier said the people of AJK were equally saddened over the losses in the earthquake on the other side of the LoC and offered relief.

He criticised India for delaying the openings of crossing points along the LoC, saying the timely opening could have saved many lives on his side. He said the earthquake had once again proved that Pakistan was true sympathiser of the Kashmiris.

Later, the Kashmiri leaders visited Ambore refugee camp, devastated by the earthquake, and addressed the people who migrated from the occupied Kashmir after 1990.

The APHC team reached Islamabad from Lahore on Monday night and was scheduled to leave for Muzaffarabad by helicopter on Tuesday morning. Inclement weather compelled them to travel to the ruined city via snow capped Murree hills.

PPI adds: APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termrd the opening of LoC check-points a ‘flop idea’, he said earthquake survivors got no relief from these check-points.