We want to tell the boys, let us seize this opportunity -- Hurriyat chief

We want to tell the boys, let us seize this opportunity -- Hurriyat chief
MUZAMIL JALEEL

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 22: Separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference wants to talk to the leaders of the militant groups based in Pakistan to take forward the peace initiative launched by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and translate it into a meaningful exercise.

``We want to tell the leaders of our boys with guns that let us seize this opportunity. If Indians do not come up to the expectations of the people who want peace to return and disputes to be resolved, then the blame will squarely rest with them,'' the Hurriyat Chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat told The Indian Express.

He added that ``to translate the call (of ceasefire) given by Vajpayee into a purposeful exercise, we need to have a contact with mujahideen leaders across''. Bhat said this (ceasefire) was an opportunity.

The Hurriyat stance, he said, is very clear. ``There is need for spade-work,'' he said. ``Let us start talking. Talk to Indians first, Pakistanis next and create an atmosphere where Indians and Pakistanis can sit and talk to each other as well''.

Accepting that there was a difference in the reaction of the militantgroups and the Hurriyat to Centre's ceasefire offer, Bhat said, ``there isa lack of communication between the militant leadership and the Hurriyat''.

That is why the Hurriyat is suggesting that its leadership should be given a chance to initiate a dialogue with them. ``We even don't have proper communication with Pakistan,'' he said. ``If anybody thinks we have a contact with Pakistani leadership because we visit their High Commission in Delhi, they are mistaken. High Commissioners are not policy makers,'' he said.

When asked whether the militants and the separatist politicians were taking two different lines while reacting to Vajpayee's initiative, Bhat shot back. ``These boys with guns and Hurriyat represent identical sentiments which is fully supported by Pakistan. It is the sentiment for freedom -- freedom to exercise the right of self determination. It is deep rooted in our history,'' he said.

The Hurriyat Chairman said the entire situation has changed after the Hurriyat reacted to the ceasefire initiative. ``Pakistan has endorsed the Hurriyat stand in letter and spirit,'' he said. ``In fact Pakistan has all along said that Kashmir belongs to the people of Kashmir and whatever decision the people of Kashmir take, that will be acceptable to them,'' he said. Citing example, he said ``the Hurriyat, which represents the sentiment of Kashmiri people, chose not to go with the Hizbul Mujahideen's ceasefire decision, they (Pakistan) too backed it''.

Bhat said the Hurriyat does not want to go for confrontationist politics. ``We believe that if we can win over both India and Pakistan to accept the fact that we Kashmiris are the basic party based on principle to the dispute and make them to sit togther for a tripartite dialogue, it is the best recourse,'' he said. ``We don't want to open fronts everywhere''.