We don't expect much from U.N., says Mirwaiz

Srinagar: Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq discusses a point with senior Hurriyat leader Sayed Saleem Geelani during a seminar at Rajbagh in Srinagar on Tuesday. PTI Photo (PTI1_4_2011_000034B)

There is not much expectation from the United Nations for a solution to the Kashmir problem, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Tuesday.

At a seminar organised by the Hurriyat Conference on ‘the U.N. and its role on Kashmir' here, the Mirwaiz said: “The Kashmir issue had a solid base because of the U.N. resolutions, but it is a failed body now… Either it should be closed, or there should be a parallel body… So we do not have much expectation from the U.N.”

But the hard-line faction, headed by Syed Ali Geelani, has been harping on the U.N. resolutions. He said India and Pakistan could not thrust a solution on the Kashmiris. “The Kashmiris are masters of their own nation,” he said. “It is the moral duty of the U.N. to implement its resolutions, or it should be disbanded or it should work out an alternative mechanism.”

He criticised the government for failing to implement the cross-LOC confidence building measures. “We supported the move. But it was sabotaged by India's insincerity. If India was serious about trade across the LoC, it should have put in place the infrastructure. But that has not been the case.”

The Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat backed the former Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula so as to push for a gradual solution to the Kashmir crisis. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Mohammad Yasin Malik said it was the BJP during Vajpayee's rule that engaged the United Hurriyat Conference in talks.

He still hoped the party would press the Centre towards a solution.