Monday, June 6 2005 08:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik last night (Jun 5, 2005) inexplicably kept away from a marathon meeting between visiting Kashmiri separatist leaders and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad, two days after he bluntly criticised Kashmiri leaders in this country for "romanticising" militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-hour meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence was attended by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and other separatist leaders who crossed the Line of Control (LOC) from the Kashmir valley on June 2 at the invitation of Pakistan Government.

Aziz hosted a dinner later for the separatist leaders at which Malik was present.

Neither Malik nor the Pakistan side was willing to give any reason for the JKLF leader's absence at the talks.

On Friday (Jun 3, 2005), Malik had blamed the leaders of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for "romanticising" militancy, which has claimed thousands of lives in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir issue

As for the talks between Aziz and separatist leaders, they followed the familiar line - Kashmiris should be involved in the talks between India and Pakistan aimed at finding a solution to the Kashmir issue.

The separatist leaders are to meet President Pervez Musharraf after his return from Gulf tour this week.

After the meeting, addressing a press conference with Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwai Umer Farooq, the Prime Minister said any talks aimed at resolving the Kashmir problem should involve three stakeholders - Kashmiris, Pakistan and India.

UN resolutions on Kashmir

Asked about Pakistan's stand now on UN resolutions on Kashmir, Aziz said it still stood by them but if a solution emerges hypothetically out of the talks involving the three parties, it would take the peace process towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Farooq said Pakistan Government has assured them that it would continue to make efforts for their participation in the dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir problem.

Farooq said Aziz has assured that Pakistan would ensure the participation of Hurriyat leaders as "genuine" representatives in the talks.

All Party Hurriyat Conference

"The Government of Pakistan is committed to see to it that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, their genuine representatives in name of All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leadership is made a part of the ongoing process as far as dialogue is concerned," he said.

"We were assured that the Government of Pakistan is doing its utmost and its best to see to it that how the leadership of the Jammu and Kashmir would be part of the ongoing process."

"We feel that the time has come when India and Pakistan have to move forward on the dispute of Kashmir and the people of Kashmir have to be part of it to make this process complete and successful," he said.

He said they had "very detailed and frank discussions" on all aspects of Jammu and Kashmir especially the ongoing dialogue process of between India and Pakistan.

"We have been assured by the Prime Minister of Pakistan that the people and Government of Pakistan are wholly and solely behind people of Kashmir in their just struggle for the right of self determination," he said.

Aziz, who answered only two questions, said the Kashmir issue has three stakeholders. "They were people of Kashmir, India and Pakistan. Unless the three stakeholders do not agree to hold talks, speedy progress cannot be achieved."

"Our view is that all the three stakeholders should take part in the talks."

Asked about the fate of UN resolutions, he said, "UN resolutions are there with us. Our position is that Kashmiris should get their rights according to those resolutions."

"We also said that if the three stake-holders could reach an understanding which can bring progress, we can also see that. This is, however, a hypothetical thing. However, our stand is that UN resolutions must be respected," he said.

Farooq said the deliberations with Pakistani leaders were incomplete, obviously referring to their forthcoming meeting with Musharraf after his return from abroad. "We are going to have further deliberations in the days to come on other issues."

Kashmir - a very complex issue

According to Farooq, Aziz said Kashmir issue is "a very complex one". This is the first step in deliberations. We need more consultations and more time to address all the aspects of situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I am satisfied with the discussions we had with him and we are assured that all possible would be done to meet the basic demand that is inclusion of the APHC in the talks process with India is taken forward," he said.

"Our discussions have focussed on how we can move towards this major and a complex issue in a way that the Kashmiri people get their due rights and lead a happy life," he said.

Without making any reference to why Malik did not taken part in the talks, Aziz said he had had very productive talks with the Hurriyat leaders and discussed the issues relating to the dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

"We are committed to peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people."

"Pakistan's stand on Kashmir has always been consistent. We will always stand by our Kashmiri brethren. We are very pleased that this major event has taken place as a result of confidence building measures we have had and they have been able to cross the Line of Control from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad by land route," Aziz said.

He said this is a historic visit for the Hurriyat leaders as for many of them this is their fist visit to Pakistan and to PoK.

"It is also historic that the they will meet the civil society representing all walks of life in Pakistan. Every Pakistani is proud of their visit."