Tuesday, February 28 2006 10:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: The London-based Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has questioned the wisdom of some Kashmiri leaders in not responding to talks convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"We fail to understand what Kashmiri leaders have in mind. On one hand they demand that they want to be involved in the peace process and on the other hand when opportunity comes their way they refuse to sit down," Dr Shabir Choudhry, JKLF leader told reporters here yesterday (Feb 27,2006) night.

"We strongly support expansion of the dialogue process and leaders of different Kashmiri parties should be made part of the process. In view of this we support Indian Prime Minister's efforts to invite different Kashmiri leaders for discussion; and moreover his effort to hold round table conference on issue of Kashmir," he said.

Choudhry said Pakistan must stop exploitation and uprooting of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "Stop changing demography of the area by violating State Subject notification and settling people from Pakistan in to Gilgit and Baltistan," he said.

Regarding the controversial Basha Dam, Choudhry wondered why the dam was not built 'inside Pakistan.'

"Mangla Dam construction was illegal and so is its upraising. We demand immediate stop to this process of coercion and exploitation," he said.

Other JKLF office bearers Abbas Butt, Sarwar Hussain and Asim Mirza were also present at the press conference.