PDP wants Pak mediation in K-issue, repudiates Ahir's statement

'Conditions will close doors for negotiations'

@Bivek Mathur

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken strong exception of Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir's statement in Lok Sabha that centre will talk to separatists only under the framework of the Indian Constitution.
In reaction to Hansraj Gangaram Ahir's statement, PDP, which is in alliance with BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, recalled the centre that Agenda of Alliance (AoA) envisaged "unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders" as the means to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio.
Ahir had on yesterday said in the Lok Sabha, "Centre is open to dialogue with those people who are willing to shun violence and are willing to work within the framework of the Indian Constitution."
Today, the Vice-President of PDP, Mohammad Sartaj Madni, through a statement, said that PDP has always upheld the significance of unconditional dialogue among the stake holders as the means to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Madni said, "The Union MoS State, Ahir's statement amounts to closing of doors for negotiation which is against the AoA document."
He said that conditioning dialogue on Kashmir also excludes Pakistan from the discourse. "This position from Government of India again undermines the reality that without involving Pakistan, no solution to Kashmir problem can sustain," Madni said.
Madni referred to Sheikh - Indira Accord as glaring instance which amply proved that such exercises did not sustain as a solution to Kashmir problem and instead compounded this further.
He said that it was post accord that Jammu and Kashmir witnessed emergence of full blown militancy and upsurge, besides perpetuated acrimony and confrontation between India and Pakistan.
Mani said that where several union Governments have at several occasions acknowledged the futility of selective accords and packages it was the government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee which seriously followed "an all inclusive" approach as a changed discourse for sustainable peace in the region and as a viable way to solve the issues.
"The course of Vajpayee was fully facilitated by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the visionary leader and then head of State government. Not only it resulted in Indo-Pak bonhomie, it was endorsed by people of the State as act of hope," the PDP Vice-President said in a statement.
Madni said who will turn his head away from reality that in the three years from 2002-2005, borders were virtually turned irrelevant, the two armies were engaged in exchange of day to day pleasantries.
"Trade flourished, development took pace and Kashmir issue came to acquire practicable and realistic contours for an 'out of box' solution," Madni said.
He said that Agenda of Alliance with BJP is a virtual revival of Vajpayee- Mufti vision and PDP sees it as an agreeable path sincerely endorsed by popular leader and BJP strongman Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister.
Madni said any deviation from stated course in Kashmir will result in confusion and deficit in trust which will seal the chances of any further exercise through political means.
He hoped that the statement of MoS will not impact the relevance of AoA and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its early implementation.