Srinagar, April 26: With India softening its stand on proposed meeting between Indian and Pakistani premiers at Thimpu, capital of Bhutan during the sidelines of upcoming SAARC summit, the activists of

pro-India political party – Peoples Democratic Party – took out a march in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir on Monday to press India and Pakistan to resume the stalled dialogue process to resolve the long pending Kashmir issue.

Hundreds of pro-India activists led by PDP president and lawmaker Mehbooba Mufti took out a protest march from party headquarters to historic Lal Chowk, the city centre. Carrying placards and banners with slogans like, “Let SAARC start with Kashmir dialogue” and “SAARC gain cannot be on Kashmir pain”, the pro-India activists were demanding immediate resumption of stalled India-Pakistan dialogue process.

“India and Pakistan should not make dialogue hostage to animosity. The premiers of two countries should meet during SAARC summit and hold dialogue on the issues including Kashmir plaguing the relationship of two countries,” said Mehbooba while addressing the party workers.

India has suspended dialogue process (composite dialogue) with arch rival Pakistan after 26/11 2008 attacks on Indian business hub by 10 gunmen. India accuses Pakistan based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba of being responsible for the attack, which left over 180 persons dead.

The PDP patron and former chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said any confrontation between India and Pakistan was not good for the people of Kashmir.

Asking Indian government to change its mindset whereby every Kashmiri was being viewed by an eye of suspicion, he said, “It is only possible when the Kashmir issue is addressed. And the issue needs to be addressed by holding comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan.”

He urged the Indian government to resume dialogue process with Pakistan for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

“I say this very humbly to the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh that the government of India must change its mindset towards Kashmir. If Indian government could talk to a military ruler Parvez Musharraf, why can’t it talk to the democratically elected government in Pakistan?” he questioned.

Mufti said the days of cosmetic dialogue between India and Pakistan are over. “Substantive talks for resolution of the Kashmir problem must be held between the two neighbours now”.

He hoped that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani would meet on the sidelines of SAARC Summit to be held on April 28-29.

Meanwhile, Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna on Monday said the meeting between Indian and Pakistani premiers during the SAARC summit cannot be ruled out.

“Let’s wait and watch, how things are going to work out. All bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet,” he told media persons in Indian capital.

National Turk India Kashmir – Fayaz Wani

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