The International Kashmir Alliance (IKA) will hold a conference in London to discuss Kashmir issue and role of Kashmiris in peace moves between Pakistan and India.
The International Kashmir Conference will be held in London during April, IKA spokesman Dr Shabbir Chaudhry told reporters at a press conference here on Saturday.
"Intra-Kashmir dialogue among Kashmiris is needed to come up with a united stand on the issue. Moreover, this dialogue will also help decide who will represent Kashmiris in future dialogue process between Pakistan and India," he said.
The conference is scheduled for April 27-28 at the office of Institute of Commonwealth, London," said Dr Shabir, who is on a visit to Pakistan.
Two other IKA leaders, Abbas Butt and Mohammed Asim Mirza, were also present on the occasion.
"IKA is a pro-people and pro-peace alliance which strongly believes that there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute and it has to be resolved through a process of dialogue," he said.
He asserted that Kashmiris are the main party to the dispute and their aspirations need to be given utmost consideration.
"There are three parties to the dispute and people of Kashmir are the main party, and it is they who should have the final say on the issue," Dr Shabir said.
He said that his organisation welcomes the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister of India and appropriately reciprocated by the President of Pakistan, "but we are extremely disappointed by the contents of the joint statement".
The joint statement reads: "The two leaders are confident that the resumption of composite dialogue will lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides."
"This means, as we all know, that they seek satisfaction of both governments, and the main party to the dispute, the people of Kashmir, were not even mentioned," the IKA spokesman said.
Both India and Pakistan, he said, need to be reminded that the Kashmir dispute is neither a territorial dispute, nor a bilateral issue.
"The dispute is about the rights of the people to determine their own future without any restrictions or intimidation."
"They (India and Pakistan) need to understand that they have always talked and made agreements bilaterally, and all those agreements failed to provide lasting peace and resolution of the dispute; and rightly rejected by the people of Kashmir," he said.
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