Kashmir can't be put on the back burner: Mirwaiz

New Delhi: Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, has said that the 'time has come when Pakistan has to think in terms of what is in the interest of Kashmiris rather than what is Pakistan going to get out of Kashmir'.

When Mirwaiz Farooq was asked about the sidelining of the Kashmir issue, he said, "The Hurriyat Conference is always of the view that we as Kashimiris believe that the time has come when Pakistan has to think in terms of what is in the interest of Kashmiris rather than what is Pakistan is going to get out of Kashmir."

In an interview to the Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN programme, Devil's Advocate, Mirwaiz Farooq also said that Pakistan and India cannot afford to put Kashmir on the back burner anymore.

He also said that the Pakistan Army is the most important factor and any change in Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir would not be possible without consulting it.

"The most important factor in Pakistan is the Army. So I think, any Kashmir policy, if it has to be changed, that has to be in consultation with the Army," he said.

The Mirwaiz replied in the negative when questioned about the comments and official statements from Pakistan, particularly from Pakistan People's Party co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, suggesting a change in Pakistan's Kashmir policy.

"I don’t think there is a change in Pakistan’s policy, but definitely in approach, and which I feel is a welcome sign because if we have to address the issue of Kashmir… we have always said that out of the box solutions and out of the box approach is what is needed," he said.

After first saying that the Hurriyat is not against the Indo-Pak dialogue or the two countries coming together, Mirwaiz Farooq disagreed with the comments of Zardari and Gillani suggesting that Kashmir should not be an obstacle to an improvement of India–Pakistan relations, and, specifically, emphasising the need to boost trade as a way of bringing the two countries together.

"Pakistan and India cannot afford to put Kashmir on the back burner and talk about trade, politics, cultural exchanges, sports, because… it’s a live issue, people are getting killed. Yes, of course, there is a cease-fire on the borders. Indian and Pakistani forces are not getting killed, but the fact is that Kashmiris are getting killed in Kashmir."

When reminded that in March Zardari had said on Devil's Advocate that India and Pakistan should not be hostage to the UN resolution but could agree to disagree and, additionally, they should leave the Kashmir dispute to a later wiser generation and instead get on with improving their relationship, Mirwaiz Farooq insisted that Kashmir was important to the Pakistani people and could not be sidelined for this reason, no matter what individual politicians may say.

PAGE_BREAK

"In reality if we have to move forward, we have to understand the fact that Kashmir is a very vibrant issue in Pakistan, with all the internal problems and political issues they have, Kashmir remains the key as far as Pakistani public opinion is concerned. I am absolutely confident that no government in Pakistan can sideline the Kashmir issue. As long as the Kashmir issue is alive in the hearts and minds of Kashmiris as well as in the hearts and minds of people in Pakistan, no government can afford (to do) it."

He also made it clear that in his eyes no civilian politician in Pakistan could change the country’s Kashmir policy unless and until the Army agrees to the change.

Mirwaiz Farooq: "The most important factor in Pakistan is the Army. So I think any Kashmir policy, if it has to be changed that has to be in consultation with the Army. I don’t see that there is any change in Pakistan’s (Army’s) policy on Kashmir…

Karan Thapar: You are suggesting that the Army won’t let Zardari or Gilani actually put into practice what they are saying in rhetorical terms? That’s what you are suggesting?

Mirwaiz Farooq: I am saying that it is very difficult for any Prime Minister in Pakistan to come up with a set of ideas and try to implement it on its own, unless and until there is the backing of the other institutions in Pakistan.

Karan Thapar: The Army in particular?

Mirwaiz Farooq: In particular. We know it for sure.

Mirwaiz Farooq claimed Hurriyat is not an obstacle to the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said it wants to be the bridge between the two countries. But he also said that India and Pakistan could not have a workable relationship till the Kashmir issue is resolved.

Karan Thapar: Talking to this programme three weeks ago, Prime Minister Gilani made it clear that whilst Pakistan would consult the Kashmiris, he wasn’t going to give the Kashmiris a veto. And secondly, he said that Kashmir would not be an obstacle to an improvement of relations between the two countries. So, even Prime Minister Gilani is moving away from the position you want him to take.

Mirwaiz Farooq: I don’t think… we want to be an obstacle. In fact we want to be… a bridge of friendship between the two countries. But… whatever Mr. Zardari is saying and Mr. Gillani is saying, the fact is that Kashmir is the bone of contention, and you cannot have workable relations between India and Pakistan unless and until there is some movement on Kashmir."

"We have been seeing India and Pakistan talking over the years, and now it’s a fact that Kashmir can not be resolved bilaterally. You have to involve the third party, which is Kashmir. Shimla, Tashkent, Agra, New Delhi, these are all agreements which have failed primarily because Kashmiris were never consulted and involved."

PAGE_BREAK

Speaking about Gillani’s reference to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s ideas for a solution to Kashmir as "half-baked", the Mirwaiz instead blamed the Indian government for the failure of General Musharraf’s efforts.

Karan Thapar: "In fact just two weeks ago Mr. Gillani said to me that General Musharraf’s thinking was "half baked". He said his government would not necessarily endorse General Musharraf’s concepts of a solution based on self-governance or joint management.

Mirwaiz Farooq: I think General Musharraf’s ideas could not go further because there was no response from India. If India had responded to the suggestions and proposals given by Musharraf, I think… a lot of headway could have been made."

Instead Mirwaiz Farooq insisted that Musharraf’s four-point proposal is the key to solve the Kashmir problem. He said: "He still commands respect among people and, in terms of Kashmir policy, I would say that I believe personally… if we have to move forward it is in and around the four point proposal… (of) Musharraf".

He said that whilst Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership are flexible in finding a solution to the Kashmir issue, the Indian government is inflexible:

"There is flexibility in Pakistan, which is needed. There is flexibility in the Kashmiri leadership (because) I feel that we are the ones who are suffering (so) there has to be flexibility from our side. But you don’t see any flexibility from the Indian side."

When the Hurriyat leader was asked if he is worried about Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah’s visits to Pakistan and their meeting Zardari, he said:

"I think that it’s good. It’s good that… these people go to Pakistan, talk in Pakistan and come back. They need the certificate of Pakistan in Kashmir, to propagate their ideas. So I think that it’s a moral victory for the Hurriyat."

But he was particularly critical of the PDP leader, Mehbooba Mufti.

"I think she needs Pakistan’s certificate. That’s what she has said because… if you look at (the) events... (after) she has come from Pakistan, she is going to every election rally and saying that I… went to Pakistan, and I spoke this and I got this. So this says that even for the mainstream politics the ashirwad or the support of Pakistan is very important."

Finally, when pointed out that India is not even talking to Hurriyat and Pakistan is changing it’s traditional position on Kashmir and suggested that this shows that circumstances and the world are moving against Hurriyat, he replied:

Mirwaiz Farooq: I don’t think so. I think what counts is the situation on the ground. I think Kashmiris are determined on the ground. There is lot of faith as far as Kashmiris are concerned in terms of the tremendous sacrifices they have given. Hundred thousand people have been lost in the last twenty years. Yes, we can forgive, but we cannot forget.

Karan Thapar: And that faith and that determination keeps you going?

Mirwaiz Farooq: It does. It’s the only thing we have; it’s the only thing which will keep us going in future also.

Watch the full interview on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate at 2030 hrs IST on Sunday, June 8.