Speakers here on Wednesday at a seminar on "Kashmir- its solution and options most feasible" were unanimous on the settlement of the dispute through tripartite talks and opposed all options that could lead to the division of Kashmir. The seminar was arranged by Organising Committee Muhajireen Jammu and Kashmir Welfare Organisation NWFP.
Central Senior Vice President of Awami National Party (ANP) and former Federal Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour chaired the seminar while Provincial Senior Mister, Sirajul Haq was the chief guest.
The seminar was addressed among others by NWFP Information Minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai, Secretary General ARD, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, former Vice Chancellor Peshawar University, Dr Abdul Mateen, former Chairman University Grants Commission, Professor Pareeshan Khattak, Chairman Liberation League, Chief Justice, Abdul Majeed Malik, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Amanullah Khan, Secretary Information JUI-F, Abdul Jalil Jan, Chairman Blawaristan National Front, Nawaz Khan Naji, President of Muslim Conference NWFP Chapter, Saeed Butt, Editor Daily Jehad Sharif Farooq and General Secretary National Liberation Front, Arif Shahid.
Ghulam Ahmed Bilour in his presidential address laid great stress on the resolution of the dispute by utilising political means instead of becoming emotional and touchy over the matter.
He said that in politics, decisions were taken after taking extreme care as any wrong decision could prove catastrophic, while a right political decision would cast a positive impact on the issue.
He said time had come to settle the matter as they had already suffered great loss during the last 57 years and could not afford any further loss. He contended that as per Simla accord, both Pakistan and India were bound to settle the dispute through negotiations.
Senior NWFP Minister, Sirajul Haq paid glowing tributes to the people of Kashmir who are rendering great sacrifices for achieving their right, said the people of NWFP and tribal areas were at their back in the hour of trial and tribulations and would not let them down.
However to achieve the desired end, the minister said, Kashmiri leadership of both sides would have to take a united stand for the freedom of their motherland from Indian yoke.
Asif Iqbal Daudzai in his address opined that it was not a dispute involving three parties but it was a quadrilateral in nature as the matter was before the United Nations Organisation (UNO) for the last 57 years. He underscored the need for expediting diplomatic efforts at the UN level to solve the issue.
He said if UN could promptly respond in East Timore then it was also its responsibility to come forward to the help the Kashmiri people in achieving their right to self determination.
Other speakers in their addresses laid stress on the resolution of the issue by involving the people of Kashmir in the dialogue process. They said that no dialogue without Kashmiris could lead to the settlement of the matter and appreciated the efforts initiated by Pakistan Government towards this end.
They said that the options offered by President Musharraf had put life in the Kashmir issue and lauded the bold stance taken by the government. They said that had Pakistan not supported the issue, the Kashmir would have been part of India like Hyderabad and Junagarh. It was Pakistan that had been kept the issue alive for the last 57 years.