Terming the dialogue process between India and Pakistan as a step forward, leader of opposition of Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry on Wednesday said that Kashmiris should also be included in the talks for durable and lasting resolution of Kashmir issue.
"Kashmir is not a territorial dispute but an issue of the future of Kashmiris. Hence, they should be included in the talks for the settlement of Kashmir," he told a press conference at his residence here.
He said there are three parties of Kashmir dispute, which are Pakistan, India and Kashmiris adding any resolution to Kashmir dispute will not be durable without the participation of Kashmiris.
Sultan Mahmood said the Kashmiris are struggling for the right to self-determination in accordance with the resolutions passed by the United Nation Security Council.
Their ongoing movement in occupied Kashmir is an indigenous struggle and more than 60,000 graveyards of Kashmiri youth are clear proof of it, he added.
He said that as a result of unprecedented sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiris, the world community has realised the importance of this issue. Therefore the United States and the European Union (EU) want to help resolve this core issue, he added.
Sultan Mahmood informed that President General Pervez Musharraf would soon meet the Kashmiri leadership of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir to take them into confidence. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has also invited leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to discuss this issue, he added.
About Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by Pakistan and India, he urged upon Indian leadership to give some concessions to Kashmiri people, in occupied Kashmir.
"Release of Kashmiri leadership, withdrawal of armed forces from cities of occupied Kashmir and repeal of Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) can further improve the present relations between the two countries," he added.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir, he added, is an unbreakable unit and Kashmiris will foil all types of conspiracies to divide it.
He said in the backdrop of the present regional and international political scenario, the Kashmir issue has entered into an important and sensitive phase.
"Our party, like in the past, will continue to highlight the Kashmir issue at all the international fora," he added.