CBMs have no importance, says Hurriyat

SRINAGAR, JULY 23. Echoing the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference today virtually rejected the unilateral confidence-building measures (CBMs) announced by India saying they had no importance unless the Kashmir issue was solved first.

``Confidence-building measures have no importance unless Kashmir issue is resolved,'' the apex body of 24 separatist outfits said in a statement after the first meeting of its executive, the top policy-making forum, since the Agra summit.

The statement said, ``the way Gen. Musharraf presented Kashmir issue at the summit was reflection of reality and appreciable. It was so because it represented the wishes, aspirations and urges of the people of Kashmir.'' The APHC reiterated the demand for involvement of Kashmiris in the talks and said dialogue minus Kashmiris could not produce any result.

Referring to the meeting the Hurriyat leaders had with Gen. Musharraf in New Delhi on the eve of the summit, the statement said for the first time in the history of Indo-Pak. dialogue Kashmiri leadership was taken into confidence. The Hurriyat praised the Prime Minister for initiating the process and inviting the Pakistan President for the summit saying it was also based on realities.

All the executive members, barring the JKLF, attended the meeting held at Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh, a spokesman of the amalgam said.

- PTI

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