All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday, emphasised the need to include Kashmiri leadership in the dialogue process between Pakistan and India for the resolution of long-standing Kashmir dispute. He was speaking on the occasion of a dinner reception hosted by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in honour of the visiting APHC delegation at the Chief Minister House.
APHC leaders Yasin Malik, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Abdullah, Bilal Ghani Lone and Fazle Haque were among other members of the delegation, who attended the reception.
A large number of notables, including politicians and businessmen also attended the reception.
He said Kashmir dispute is not a border or regional dispute but it is an issue of the future of 15 million Kashmiris. People of Kashmir had given innumerable sacrifices and continue to lay down their lives for the cause, he added.
He said a resonance is being heard at international level for the resolution of Kashmir dispute and there is an optimism in Pakistan and India and people want the peace process to go forward.
He said until the resolution of Kashmir dispute neither sustainable peace nor true development is possible in South Asia.
Mirwaiz Farooq said the APHC had been making efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogues since its formation.
"We support the peace process between Pakistan and India and want further progress. However, all the previous efforts of peace at Simla, Agra and Lahore had failed because Kashmiris were not taken into confidence," he added.
He said now time has changed and APHC leadership is here due to sacrifices of Kashmiris, adding that visit of Kashmiri leadership to Pakistan reflects that the government of India has accepted its status as a party of Kashmiris in the dialogue process.
He said, "we have been saying for the last 15 years that unless Kashmiris are not allowed to meet with each other and Pakistan, which is an important party of the issue, is not included in talks, Kashmiris and India can not resolve the issue at bilateral level.
He said, "we are on visit to Pakistan as we believe that the voice of Kashmiris and Pakistan should be the same."
Referring to their meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and leaders of political parties, he said they were returning to Kashmir completely satisfied.
He lauded the fundamental role of Pakistan government and its people in highlighting the Kashmir dispute at international level and providing diplomatic and moral support at every level for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik thanked the people of Pakistan for their love and passion demonstrated during their visit and said Kashmiris would never forget this affection.
He said the whole world was now pressing for the resolution of Kashmir dispute and Pakistan and India had started a peace process.
Yasin Malik said when this peace process started, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front opposed bilateral talks between Pakistan and India but in December 2003, he wrote a letter to the heads of Pakistan and India that we completely support the peace process and appealed them to meet each other to resolve the Kashmir dispute and include Kashmiri leadership in this process.
He said if Kashmir dispute can be resolved through talks, we all Kashmiris are in favour of this option, but if Kashmiris are ignored then perhaps that decision would not be acceptable to Kashmiris.
He said the struggle of Kashmiris cannot be suppressed by force.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in his welcome speech said hearts of Pakistanis and Kashmiris beat in unison.
Kashmir is a reality and right of self-determination is the long-standing dream of Kashmiri and their great sacrifices have provided real support to this dream, he added.
The Chief Minister said the struggle of Kashmiris had proved that people couldn't be governed by force. People of Kashmir are peace-loving but slavery was imposed on them.
He said Kashmiris have been deprived of their basic rights, which forced them to start struggle against oppression.