JKDFP not to attend roundtable on Kashmir
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR (IHK): In occupied Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party headed by Shabir Ahmed Shah has decided not to participate in the second roundtable conference being convened here on May 24-25 saying the Indian government was not serious about resolving Kashmir issue.

"The invitation received from the Indian government for the conference was discussed at the executive committee meeting of the party and it was unanimously decided not to participate as the Indian government was not serious to resolve Kashmir issue," General Secretary of the party Mohammad Abdullah Tari told newsman in Srinagar.

"Had the Indian Government been serious about resolving the issue it should have acted on the suggestions of the liberation leaders and created an atmosphere conducive for carrying forward the dialogue process in the state," Tari said.

He said Kashmiri leaders during their meetings with the Indian Prime Minister had put forth suggestions for creating such an atmosphere in occupied Kashmir. Kashmiri leaders have time and again put forth their suggestions before the Indian government, he said and "asked what else can be discussed at the proposed roundtable conference?"

"The party meeting expressed grave concern over the increase of army and paramilitary forces in occupied Kashmir as thousands of hectares of land in populated areas have been converted into cantonments and army camps have been setup in the nook and corners of the disputed territory," he said.

"It appears that on the one side the Government of India wants to strengthen its armed forces here and on the other it wants to engage the liberation leaders in the dialogue process," Tari said.

"The Round Table Conference was aimed at buying time and a deliberate attempt is made to engage Kashmiri leaders in discussions and meetings," he said.

The meeting, he said, was of the view that unless the Indian government adopts a clear-cut and solid policy on Kashmir, no breakthrough was possible in the talks.

He said although his party was supportive of the result-oriented dialogue process, Democratic Freedom Party will not take part in the roundtable conference till Kashmiris are convinced that it can lead to the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Meanwhile, Democratic Freedom Party President Shabbir Ahmed Shah has said India is not serious to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Shah said, under a preplanned conspiracy, on the one hand India is further strengthening its military occupation by acquiring more land, while on the other it was talking of holding talks with liberation leaders for a solution of the vexed issue.

In fact, he said, "India's agenda was not resolving the issue but something else." He said, India is aware of the realities but wants to buy time.●