Dialogue should accompany ceasefire, says Hurriyat

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. The Hurriyat Conference tonight said the extension of ceasefire by the Centre should be accompanied by a dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

Reacting to the third extension of ceasefire, the Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mr. Abdul Gani Bhat told PTI over phone from Srinagar ``now that the Centre is extending the ceasefire once again, let us hope that the Government spells out the rationale behind it with a view to dispelling doubts about it in Kashmir. As a matter of fact, dialogue should have preceded the declaration of ceasefire... However, now ceasefire and dialogue should go hand in hand.'' Mr. Bhat said ``extension (of ceasefire) or no extension, let the word go across that unless the dispute is addressed, peace can never return.''

Criticising the previous unilateral ceasefires, Mr. Bhat claimed ``these could not provide any results because the custodial killings had increased.'' He said if the Government did not put an end to such violence ``then it is not going to give any results if you call ceasefire month after month to the neglect of the end.''

- PTI

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