Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on Tuesday said that durable peace in Jammu and Kashmir was not possible without the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir.
Addressing the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) contact group on Jammu and Kashmir here, he thanked OIC for its continued support and understanding in highlighting the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The meeting was held at UN Headquarters and was attended by Foreign Minister of Turkey Abdullah Gul and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Niger, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Mohammad Anwar Khan and Mir Waiz Umar Farooq, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
Kasuri reiterated Pakistan's continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate struggle. He reaffirmed that the longstanding dispute should be resolved peacefully, in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris, as recognised by UN resolutions.
He reiterated the need for involving the true representatives of the Kashmiri people in the on-going dialogue process with India to make the process durable. He called for an end to human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.
Umar Farooq said that due to engagement of the international community and OIC, the peace process in South Asia was gaining momentum.
He welcomed the peace initiative undertaken by both India and Pakistan. "We feel that Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved unless Pakistan and India show flexibility and move forward," he said, adding that the process could only reach completion with the involvement and support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He hoped that OIC would impress upon India to initiate Kashmir centric CBMs, like: release of political prisoners, demilitarisation of Kashmir, repealing black laws particularly the Public Safety Act, Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, etc, dismantling of bunkers from villages and towns, freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly as well as tangible action regarding disappeared persons.
He said that Hurriyat desired that Kashmiri leaders be officially associated with the talks, "which has not happened yet". He said both Prime Minister Singh and President Musharraf were holding discussions with Hurriyat leadership, which was a step in the right direction.
He added that Kashmir issue offered both hope and danger. If the world leadership did not respond timely and justly, the Kashmir issue could lead to catastrophic consequences.
However, a just, democratic and peaceful solution would lead to freeing the forces of development and progress in South Asia, bringing the peace dividend to the entire region, and humanity as a whole, he added.
The OIC Secretary General welcomed Pakistan-India dialogue process and hoped that it would help in finding a just and durable solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He regretted that Jammu and Kashmir dispute was the result of India's non-implementation of UNSC Resolutions.
He assured the Kashmiri people of OIC's continued support in their just struggle for right to self-determination. Recalling the OIC resolutions, he called upon India to end human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
In their statements, the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Saudi delegate welcomed the on-going Pakistan and India composite dialogue, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah Gul stressed the need for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and international legitimacy.
He termed Kashmir issue as a humanitarian issue, and assured the Kashmiris of Turkey's commitment and support until a just and durable solution was found.
The Saudi representative called for respect of Kashmiri people's human rights and reiterated Saudi government's support for early peaceful final settlement of this longstanding issue.
The Representative of Niger extended Niger's support to the on-going Pakistan-India dialogue process and expressed the hope that this would result in alleviating the sufferings of the people under occupation.
He hoped that the government of India would heed the OIC resolutions and bring an end to the violation of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
Anwar Khan, on behalf of Kashmiri people, expressed full support to the on-going Pakistan-India dialogue process.
He expressed gratitude of the Kashmiri people to the Muslim Ummah and OIC for their continued and unwavering support to their struggle for right to self-determination.
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