India-Pak must change customary attitude and resolve Kashmir issue: Geelani

Calling upon India and Pakistan to “shun the traditional way of talks”, the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Monday urged the leadership of both nations to “accept some change in customary attitudes” and resolve the Kashmir issue.

“Time has come to address the root cause (of Kashmir) which is bigger than any other issue between the two neighbours and is stopping them to share the pleasant relationship,” Geelani said in a statement issued to GNS.

He said time has come for India to shun its “rigidity and stubbornness” and adopt a democratic approach towards Kashmir.

“It (India) also has to show seriousness and boldness in resolving the Kashmir dispute once for all. Until it shuns its meaningless rhetoric of ‘integral part’ and accepts the seriousness of the Kashmir issue, the Indo-Pak dialogues will yield nothing concrete,” he said.

Commenting over the meeting of the Indo-Pak NSAs in Bangkok, Geelani said, “No conscience person can be averse to the dialogue process but we must look at the causes of the failures of the talks which are going on from last six decades between the two countries. Serious efforts should be made to address those causes which are creating problems in establishing the trust and pleasant relationship between the two nations.”

Geelani said until India and Pakistan take bold steps in resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance to the wishes and sacrifices of its people, no breakthrough can be expected from the talks in future. “Nor can it bring any considerable change in the mutual relationship of the two countries,” he said.

The Hurriyat (G) chairman said at one moment, they talk of friendship and peace and simultaneously train guns at each other. “The prime ministers of both countries hold meeting today and their armies are seen exchanging bullets with each other the next day,” he said.

He said the issue which arose due to lack of foresight and selfishness of the British, Indian rulers and the Kashmiri leadership at the time of partition is still a living reality in 2015.

“This is the same big reason that has caused destructive wars between the two countries resulting in huge loss of life and property on both sides. It is also due to this issue that the whole South Asian region is suffering from uncertain and political instable situations,” he said.