Time for quick action, says APHC

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 4. A disarming expression of sympathy for the sufferings of Kashmiri Pundits. A stern warning that the situation could go out of control in Jammu and Kashmir unless remedial steps were taken.

These were some of the highpoints of an interactive session with an invited group held here today by the leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC).

During the three-hour session, the APHC leaders, Mr. Abdul Gani Lone and Mr. Abdul Majid Banday, explained why it was in everyone's interest to find a quick and amicable settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

``Both Pakistan and Indian are now nuclear powers. There is the danger of even a small conflict escalating into a nuclear war,'' Mr. Banday warned in the course of his introductory remarks.

The Kashmiri leaders said after the Agra summit ``flopped'' it was decided by the APHC to present before the people in other States a ``realistic picture'' of what was happening in their State. ``The Government had been spreading misinformation about the Kashmir situation,'' he claimed.

There were frequent references to the unkept promise to hold a referendum in J&K and the Kashmiri's feeling that their home State had always been under foreign invaders.

Mr. Lone said a section of Kashmiri youth was forced to take up arms as the Government failed to safeguard Kashmiri interests.

The efforts of the moderate leaders who had been fighting for rights of Kashmiris had turned out to be futile in the face the insensitivity of the Government to Kashmir's problems.

``The gun culture was imposed on Kashmiri youth by the Government. Our sympathies are with the youth fighting for Kashmiris' rights,'' he said.

Mr. Lone said the formation of the APHC in 1993 marked yet another attempt by the moderate elements to find a solution to Kashmir problem.

Mr. Lone dismissed Mr. Farooq Abdullah as ``the puppet Chief Minister'' and the refusal of the Government to hold talks with the APHC as unreasonable.

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