MUMBAI, Jan 18: A member of the Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Mr Yusuf Tarigami, hoped here on Sunday the new peace initiative between Pakistan and India, launched at Islamabad , would lead to its logical conclusion, but warned against ignoring Kashmiris in any settlement.
"Peace cannot be divided between Pakistan and India," said Mr Tarigami while addressing a well-attended seminar on Peace in South Asia, organized by the Association of Peoples' of Asia during the ongoing World Social Forum's massive mobilization of the downtrodden and anti-globalization activists.
Participants from both India and Pakistan addressed the seminar. It was chaired by Lt-Gen (retired) Dhar whereas as Pakistan People's Party leader Qamaruzzaman was co-chairman.
The Kashmiri legislator said while New Delhi and Islamabad could talk directly it was unfortunate that Kashmiris on either side of the divide could not even shake hands. His remarks were seen as supportive of initiating dialogue among the Kashmiris and more free movement across the Line of Control.
He said Kashmiris wanted peace and were sick and tired of the fratricidal conflict between India and Pakistan which had divided the Kashmiris. But Kashmiris, Mr Tarigami said, would not accept any solution which was dictated by outsiders, whom he called "headmaster" which was an implied reference to the US. "Those who have plunged Iraq and Afghanistan into bloodshed, are now telling us how to make peace. We don't want their peace," he said, hoping the people of India and Pakistan would push their governments on the road to peace.
Peace dividends, he added, would be enormous for the people of South Asia. Senator Sanaullah from Balochistan was supportive of the current peace initiative but warned that no peace would be durable and lasting which was imposed from outside and ignored the consent of the people of Kashmir.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Kunwar Khalid Yunus called for forgetting the past and opening many routes and modes for travelling across the South Asian region.
BALOCH RALLY: Peace activists and legislators from Pakistan, mainly from Balochistan, took out a rally here during the World Social Forum's mobilization against neo-colonialism, to express their concerns over alleged negative impact of Gwadar port, plans to set up cantonments and displacement of Balochi people.
The rally was led by Senator Sanaullah and was also participated by Mr Rasool Bakhsh Palijo , Dr Malik and others. The rally also expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of the world.