The Hindu : Hurriyat may accept greater autonomy for Kashmir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2002

International

International

Hurriyat may accept greater autonomy for Kashmir

WASHINGTON SEPT.23. The Hurriyat leader, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, has said the separatist conglomerate will consider ``an alternative negotiated settlement'' of the Kashmir problem providing greater autonomy to the Kashmiri people even if it did not lead to an independent State.

``Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan but a human problem that requires a durable, acceptable and honourable solution,'' he told the Washington Times in an interview published today.

He said the Hurriyat would consider an alternative settlement provided all ``fundamental issues'' were duly addressed.

However, he asserted the Kashmiri people would not accept a Government that was formed before a comprehensive dialogue addressing their ``fundamental issues''.

Mr. Mirwaiz said that during his meetings with the State Department and the National Security Council officials here last week, he was promised that United States would urge India to focus on the ``fundamental issues of Kashmir''.

However, the paper noted, ``Washington has stressed that Pakistan must stop the flow of militants into India before larger talks resume.'' — PTI

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Hurriyat may accept greater autonomy for Kashmir