SRINAGAR, July 17: A top Kashmiri leader on Monday urged India and Pakistan to continue with their peace process and not to allow events such as the Mumbai train blasts to derail talks.

“If India pulls out of the peace talks it will prove beneficial to the elements who want to wreck such a process,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of moderate faction of the APHC, told reporters.

India indicated on Saturday that peace talks with Pakistan, expected later this week, would be delayed in the wake of Mumbai blasts.

Militants have denied their involvement.

The two countries have been involved in talks since January 2004 to resolve pending disputes, including the one on Kashmir.

They hold the scenic region in parts but claim it in full.

“Discontinuation of the peace process at this stage will be very unfortunate for the people of Kashmir,” said Mr Farooq.

His faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has held several rounds of talks with New Delhi, including with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The two countries should continue talks and foil evil designs of people who want to derail it,” said Farooq, who is also the head priest at the main mosque in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar.—AFP