Pakistan’s renewed pitch on the Kashmir issue has enthused separatists in the Valley.
They are demanding more from the neighbouring country now.
Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani, lauding Pakistan for holding massive events on ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ on Sunday, said Islamabad should ask its embassies to “publicise” that the Kashmir issue had ‘nothing to do with extremism’ and people were striving for their “right to self-determination”.
Another Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described Pakistan as “the main party”.
“Pakistan has always played a leading role in helping Kashmir’s resistance movement by providing every possible political and diplomatic support,” said the Mirwaiz. He asked the Central government to “take practical steps to initiate a meaningful, transparent and result-orientated dialogue both with Islamabad as well as the people of Kashmir.”
The Hurriyat also sharply reacted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks on holding a referendum in Pakistan. “India is aware of the possible results of a referendum in Kashmir. This is the reason India is resorting to meaningless statements like holding a referendum in Pakistan,” said a Hurriyat spokesman.
