Malik for 'genuine political dialogue'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 13. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front president, Mr. Yaseen Malik, today called for a ``genuine political dialogue'' to end the impasse.

``Peace cannot be created in a vacuum. Nor can blind nationalism buy peace,'' Mr. Malik said delivering a lecture on ``Kashmir: 1947 - 2000'' organised by the Progressive Students' Union at Delhi University here.

He said the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, just before Ramzan was welcomed by Kashmiris and by the JKLF. ``It might have been a posture to impress upon the international community that we are a soft State. Every year, for the past 11 years, truce is being declared during Ramzan. But, I welcome it,'' he said.

The JKLF leader said genuine political dialogue could not happen without all parties to the dispute coming together to the negotiating table. ``I have already said that Mujahideen leader as well as representatives of the Pakistan Government should be called to the negotiating table so that a genuine atmosphere of peace is created,'' he said.

The real problem in Kashmir was one of ``cultural aggression'' by security forces to quell the right of Kashmiri people to self- determination.

Speech triggers clash

The speech delivered by Mr. Malik sparked off an angry outburst from a section of the students. While supporters of two students' groups clashed, the speech itself was termed incendiary.

In a statement, the ABVP said the denunciation of the Government of India by Mr. Malik on Delhi University campus would send a wrong message to people that an important institution like this is infested with separatist forces.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Foreign militants not power hungry: Shabir Shah
Next     : A case for back-channel diplomacy