The Hindu : Much needs to be done before visiting Pak.: Ansari

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Saturday, Aug 09, 2003

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Much needs to be done before visiting Pak.: Ansari

By Luv Puri

Jammu Aug. 8. The Pakistan Government has extended an official invitation to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference to visit the country for consultations on the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Talking to The Hindu, the Hurriyat chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari said: "We have been invited by the Pakistan Ambassador, Aziz Ahmed Khan, to visit Islamabad and hold talks with different political parties and other groups in that country on Jammu and Kashmir. Of course, the invitation remains subjected to the granting of passports by the Indian Government."

There was no point in visiting Pakistan till the requisite groundwork for an ultimate solution was done, he said. "A road map needs to be charted out and formulated for the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. In the near future, there is no chance of anybody from the Hurriyat camp going to Pakistan, as much needs to be done. There is no truth in the reports that we are visiting Pakistan right now. A situation needs to be created for starting an open dialogue on the issue, and before that to happen, a number of qualitative steps need to be taken to de-escalate tension both within the State as well as on the Line of Control," Mr. Ansari said.

"What are we to gain from our visit to Pakistan right now? My perception is that the gains from our visit to Pakistan right now will be zero."

Reiterating his call for a truce, he said: "In our meetings with various quarters, we stressed the need for bringing the violence graph in the State down. If the Centre declares a ceasefire, we can go to Azad Kashmir (POK) and ask the militants to respond to the offer. We can certainly prevail on them not to be an obstacle in the political dialogue."

In his meeting with the Pakistan Ambassador, the APHC chairman pressed upon the point that there was need to bring down the violence in the State. "We told the Ambassador that the people of the State have suffered enough and both countries need to work in the right direction for the settlement of the issue. The future of the sub-continent is at stake and both countries need to inch towards a solution. The solution can only be achieved by peaceful means and this is to be understood by every one in both countries," Mr. Ansari said.

He rubbished reports of Pakistan's demand to include Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the APHC meetings and said, "Let it be clear nobody can dictate terms to us and Pakistan Government never discussed the issue of Mr. Geelani. As far as the matter of participation of Geelani sahib is concerned, the decision is to be taken by the Jamaat which is his principal party."

On the discussions with Kashmir Committee, Mr. Ansari said: "we were encouraged by the efforts of eminent personalities and they updated us about their work."

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Much needs to be done before visiting Pak.: Ansari