Azad asks Kashmir separatists to respond to talks offer
January 29th, 2011 - 8:09 pm ICT by IANSJammu, Jan 29 (IANS) Union Health Minister and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday asked Kashmiri separatists to sit across the table with the central government to sort out the Kashmir issue.”If the centre is walking miles to reach you, its your duty to walk equal distance to resolve the (Kashmir) issue,” Azad told reporters at Jammu Press Club, underlining the need for a positive response from Kashmiri separatists to the dialogue.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir, headed by hardline leader Syed Ali Geelani and moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have said ‘no’ to the dialogue with the central government unless some of their conditions are met.
Both the factions have asked for a reduction in troop-levels, withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, release of prisoners and recognition of Kashmir as a “dispute” before starting the dialogue.
Azad said: “They are setting conditions for the dialogue, that’s unfortunate. Instead, they should cover the ground for the dialogue and talk to the centre unconditionally.”
During Azad’s tenure as chief minister (November 2005 to July 2008), three round-table conferences were held to resolve the Kashmir issue.
- Kashmir must join India-Pakistan dialogue: Separatists (Second Lead) - Jul 26, 2011
- Separatists push Pakistan on Kashmir, divided on dialogue (Lead) - Jul 03, 2012
- Kashmir participation must in India-Pakistan dialogue: Geelani - Jul 26, 2011
- Kashmiri separatists to meet Khar in Delhi - Jul 26, 2011
- Time for dialogue to resolve Kashmir problem: Hurriyat - Feb 09, 2011
- Kashmiri separatists to meet Pakistan foreign secretary - Feb 23, 2010
- Kashmir separatists meet Pakistan foreign secretary - Feb 24, 2010
- Ready to talk to New Delhi: Mirwaiz - Jul 25, 2011
- Amid curfew and agony, Indian leaders meet Kashmir separatists (Roundup) - Sep 20, 2010
- Pakistan presses India to share Abu Jindal evidence (Lead) - Jul 03, 2012
- Kashmir panel meets migrants, activists - Jul 23, 2011
- Farooq asks separatists to talk to central government - Jan 05, 2011
- Kashmiri separatist leaders to meet Pakistan foreign minister - Jul 21, 2011
- Dialogue must for peaceful solution of Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah - Jan 05, 2011
- Don't make Kashmir dialogue tactic to bide time: Mirwaiz (Interview) - Sep 14, 2010
Tags: act release, ali, armed forces, central government, chief minister, dialogue, factions, geelani, ghulam nabi azad, health minister, hurriyat conference, jammu and kashmir, jan 29, kashmir, kashmir issue, moderate leader, prisoners, separatists, tenure, troop levels