SRINAGAR, April 14: Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appealed on Thursday for unity among Hurriyat forces ahead of a meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf, saying their struggle was at a decisive phase. “I appeal to all those working outside the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to unite before we meet President Musharraf,” said the mirwaiz, senior leader of the moderate faction of the APHC.

“There’s a dire need for such a unity as the struggle in Kashmir is passing through a decisive phase,” he said at a news conference.

Hardliners broke away from Hurriyat in 2003 after moderates led by the mirwaiz said they were open to talks with New Delhi to resolve the dispute. Both factions claim to be the real Hurriyat.

Gen Musharraf, who is slated to arrive in India on Saturday to watch the final one-day cricket match between India and Pakistan, is due to meet moderate and hardline Hurriyat leaders during his visit.

Mirwaiz Farooq said he would meet President Musharraf on Sunday with three other moderates — Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari and Bilal Lone.

“We will tell Musharraf that our viewpoint should be accepted and accommodated while finding a solution to the dispute over Kashmir,” he said, adding “no process will be complete without our involvement.”

The moderates said they would urge Gen Musharraf to include them in talks with India on the future of Kashmir.

India opposes including the Hurriyat leadership. But Mirwaiz Farooq said the countries would have to involve the Kashmiri leaders before reaching a solution and if tripartite talks were unacceptable, a ‘triangular approach’ could be adopted.

“Let India and Pakistan talk to each other first and later talk to us to find an everlasting resolution of Kashmir,” he said.—AFP