Thursday, February 9 2006 18:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has said Pakistan is not comfortable with the idea of an independent Jammu and Kashmir and appreciated the stand of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that aspirations of people of all the regions of the state need to be taken care of while deciding the Kashmir issue.

"Why only India? Even Pakistan is not comfortable with the concept of an independent Kashmir," Mirwaiz told sources when asked to react on the reported statement of Pakistan President Perzez Muharraf in Davos recently where he had stated that independent Kashmir was not viable.

The Mirwaiz, who was here in an attempt to woo Kashmiri pundits to the idea of self-rule and explore their possible return to the valley, said, however, there was a certain flexibility on the part of the establishment in Islamabad and wanted New Delhi to pursue the path of dialogue earnestly.

About his visit to Jammu, Mirwaiz said he wanted to listen to the wishes of the people in this region and also inform them about the concept of self-rule as suggested by the Pakistan President.

Asked to comment on the Chief Minister's recent statement where he had favoured taking on board the aspiration of all the people, including those in Gilgit and Baltistan (under Pakistan occupation), Mirwaiz said "it's a good suggestion."