APHC not to hold talks with India if human rights violations continue

13 Mar, 2004

Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Maulana Abbas Ansari has said that APHC will not hold talks with the Indian government if human rights violations continue in Indian Held Kashmir.
In an interview with Radio Tehran he said, "We want to make it clear to India that if it wants to advance the talks, it must create a congenial atmosphere in which people realise that talks for peace are continuing and human rights abuses are on the decline. "
He said, India had promised that it would maintain law and order situation in occupied Kashmir and check human rights violations. There has been no let up in the situation. No implementation has been made on the promise to protect human rights violations. Ansari said, a glance on the situation during the last two months shows a number of innocent people were killed.
He said APHC had also demanded India to release the political detainees. But only Sheikh Abdul Aziz was released from jail whereas many others are still languishing in jails.
It was announced a few days ago that 13 more political detainees are being released but we have not yet received the list.
To a question, he said India and Pakistan in on going peace process have focussed on trade and sports adding "We want the two countries to first focus on Kashmir issue and later Kashmiris should also be included in the talks to find a final solution to Kashmir issue so that Kashmiris also apprise them of their wishes".

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