Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and United States President Barack Obama’s joint statement calling for resolution of Kashmir issue.
“The statement is a significant development considering the prevailing atmosphere of confrontation and tension in the overall region, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir,” said the Mirwaiz, in a statement issued from his residence where he is placed under house arrest.
He termed the decision of Mr. Sharif asking Mr. Obama to play a mediatory role in the resolution of the Kashmir issue a “positive step.”
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“For bringing peace and stability in the region and for ending an atmosphere of uncertainty, the United States should play a positive role in resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, by accelerating the process of dialogue between the two countries,” said the Mirwaiz.
The separatist leader asked New Delhi to “give up its rigid and intransigent stance over Kashmir and exhibit flexibility in resolving the issue.”
He urged the Centre to “show seriousness in resolving the long-standing Kashmir issue by initiating a process of dialogue both with Islamabad as well as the Kashmiri leadership.”
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