Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that India and Pakistan should show consistency, political-will and positivity to engage in a sustained dialogue that aims at resolving all outstanding issues including that of Kashmir.
Dr Farooq Abdullah said although formal Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan is a positive sign but both countries should not sideline Kashmiri stakeholders and leadership in any structured engagement as this would have adverse political implications in the Valley.
Meanwhile, National Conference Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani has asked PDP to clarify the unprecedented and conspicuous marginalization of Kashmiri leadership and internal stakeholders vis-à-vis the Kashmir issue in the new phase of diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“PDP had promised in its now long-buried ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ that its alliance with the BJP came at the back of an assurance that New Delhi would engage in talks with internal stakeholders including the separatist leadership in Kashmir. Today it has become clear that this was another huge lie as Kashmiri stakeholders have not only been sidelined but also completely marginalized in talks that will discuss an issue where the people of Kashmir are the rightful primary stakeholders”, he added.
Nasir Aslam Wani said NC will continue to demand the inclusion of all shades of opinion from Kashmir in a sustained, structured dialogue that could result in the resolution of the Kashmir Issue. “Any engagement between the two neighbors on Kashmir that sidelines stakeholders within Kashmir will not be fruitful or consequential. So we hope both New Delhi and Islamabad involve internal stakeholders in dialogue so that the political aspirations and sentiments of the people could be acknowledged and accounted for”, he added.
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