JOIN USSyed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, claimed the five-month-long civilian unrest has yielded some results.
He said Obama’s “realistic statement”has vindicated Hurriyat stand that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved in its “historical context”.
“Now, the government of India should give up its rhetoric of describing Kashmir as its integral part, accept the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir and resolve the issue in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris,” Geelani said. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat also welcomed Obama’s statement. He said Obama has
“accepted Kashmiris’stand that Kashmir is a dispute and that both India and Pakistan have to take the Kashmiris into confidence to resolve it.”
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, while hailing Obama’s statement, said the international community and the US must respect the transition of Kashmiris from a violent movement to a non-violent movement and play an effective role in impressing upon both India and Pakistan to resolve the issue.