ISLAMABAD, April 16: Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has termed Indian-held Kashmir “the killing field” and reiterated that the peace process would move forward only after demilitarization.

He assured the people that the atrocious period would soon be over as the policy of oppression failed elsewhere in the world and it is bound to fail in this part also.

He strongly advocated the institution of dialogue with India and Pakistan saying that Hurriyat was anxiously waiting for the dividends of dialogue to reach to the people of occupied Kashmir.

Mirwaiz said: “Kashmir is still a killing field where people are being picked up and killed. This is not acceptable to us.”

He got moved with the charged-up gathering and reciprocated the sentiment by chanting slogans favouring the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir. He asked “Ham kya chahtay?” to which the resounding reply was “Azadi”.

The APHC chairman praised Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for bringing flexibility in its Kashmir policy and asked India to follow suit.

“It is not a weak Pakistan which has made its position flexible. It is a strong and nuclear Pakistan with an ever-growing economy which is talking about self-governance and demilitarization. It means Pakistan understands the feelings and sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Kashmir Media Service reported.

Pointing towards people-to-people contacts, Mr Mirwaiz said that it was in the border areas where the maximum number of divided families and people yearn to meet each other.

He said all artificial barriers should be abolished to allow public exchanges across the Line of Control, which would in turn help build an environment for peace and resolution.

He said: “Let permanent state subject certificate (PRC) be deemed as crossing permit.”

He emphasized that demilitarization is the panacea of all ills but India has to move forward.

“I can understand your pain and suffering. It is not only in these 16 years that you have suffered; you are suffering and resisting for the last 60 years,” Mirwaiz said, adding that the APHC was striving to safeguard those sacred sacrifices and achieve the goal of a dignified solution to the vexed Kashmir dispute.

He said: “Although the situation and curbs had been preventing us from meeting each other but I tell you that our hearts and sentiments have been always with you.”

He said: “We understand what you have been facing over these decades but believe me the situation in Kashmir valley is no different.” Mr Mirwaiz reiterated that draconian laws should be repealed and the prisoners, held under these laws, immediately released.

He announced that the Hurriyat would soon organize a roundtable conference for the resolution of the Kashmir problem, and added that people from all regions of the state would be invited to participate in it.—APP