Favouring continuation of Pakistan-India dialogue process, Hurriyat Conference has said this is indispensable to foil evil designs of those who want to derail it. Any move to discontinue the peace process at this stage would be very unfortunate, APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Omer Farooq told the newsmen on Monday in occupied Srinagar.
"If India pulls out of the peace process, it will provide an opportunity to those who want to derail it," he said. Attempts were being made by some to put roadblocks in the dialogue process, Mirwaiz added, continuing "there are elements who, for their self interests, are opposed to the process", according to media reports.
Terming Mumbai train blasts as an inhuman act, he asked India and Pakistan not to make it an excuse to pull out of the peace process. "If this happens, it will be very unfortunate," he said.
Leaders in India, Pakistan and Kashmir had great responsibility to carry forward gains achieved during all these years of the dialogue process, the Hurriyat Chief said.
On Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement ruling out withdrawal of troops from IoK, he said a senior army officer had recently said there were just 1500 militants in the occupied State.
"There is no need to keep lakhs of security personnel for 1500 militants," he said. Ruling out military solution to the occupied Kashmir issue, Mirwaiz said a political and peaceful resolution to the vexed issue was needed. "A political solution is possible once India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir sit across the table", he added.
At its meeting of the executive council in IoK, the Hurriyat Conference said attacks in occupied Srinagar targeting tourists were part of this conspiracy. A statement demanded an impartial probe to unravel "black faces" of those responsible for heinous acts.
Mohammad Afzal and another boy in Gulmarg overpowered by people and handed over to police were affiliated with counter-militant Ikhwan outfit, it said.
"If government gunmen are involved in these blasts, an impartial inquiry has become imperative," the Hurriyat said. It cautioned people to be wary of "dirty conspiracies" being hatched by extremist political elements in India.