SRINAGAR, Oct 8: A leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Tuesday called on the United States to put pressure on Pakistan and India to end their dispute over Kashmir.

“We believe that the only way to ensure lasting peace in the Sub-continent is involvement of a neutral party in dialogue,” Omar Farooq said in an interview.

“The United States has the power and the responsibility to pressurize both India and Pakistan to start a dialogue, to have negotiations like they have done in the past in Bosnia or Kosovo.”

Farooq, 30, who is seen as one of the most promising politicians in occupied Kashmir, said for the moment Washington seemed satisfied to play a role of “firefighter”.

“We have to take the battle on the political and the diplomatic front and we have to exploit the issue of nuclearization of the Sub-continent which could work in our favour,” he said.

“Certain sections of India and Pakistan who have their own interests, are trying to prolong the problem, both are playing politics and people on the ground continue to suffer.”

Farooq reiterated a call for “unconditional dialogue” with India to kickstart a peace process in the held state, where the last of four rounds of voting in elections for the assembly was underway on Tuesday.

“Elections and successive governments have never resolved the Kashmir issue,” said Farooq, who in 1993 founded the All Parties Hurriyat Conference — a coalition of 23 anti-India parties.

The Hurriyat is boycotting the polls as it says they are not a solution to the dispute over Kashmir. It wants instead a plebiscite on the future of the region.

“Once again, the only outcome of the elections have been more death and destruction. The polls do not change the basis of the problem — violence, murders, crackdown, army operations,” he said.

“Every day, innocent people are killed, we have to put an end to that bloodshed.”

Farooq’s own life was transformed by violence. His father, a religious and political leader, was assassinated in 1990 and 16-year-old Farooq had to take over his role as Mirwaiz (chief priest).

“The government of India will have to deal with the Kashmir issue as a political question and not a problem of bad governance,” said Farooq, who is known as a moderate politician.

“We are ready to talk about all possible settlements, but the first step would be a cessation of hostilities on both sides, that would give a huge relief to the people of Kashmir.”

India has up until now refused to talk directly to the Hurriyat, although some APHC leaders were talking to a private government-backed Kashmir committee before the election began.

“We are ready to talk about all the options to reach an honourable, durable settlement in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”

Farooq said the Hurriyat was ready to talk to the Mujahideen to get them to support a peace process. But he warned: “Unless India comes to the negotiating table, the militants will become more and more radical.” —AFP