SRINAGAR - Kashmiris from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) that divides India and Pakistan are meeting in this Jammu and Kashmir capital for a three-day conference organized by an NGO.
The conference, which began Friday, is being organised by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.
The delegation from Pakistan-administered Kashmir attending the intra-Kashmir conference comprises politicians, lawyers, peace activists, journalists and traders.
Former Pakistan foreign secretary Humayun Khan, who is a participant, said civil society across the divided border should take positive decisions since the governments in New Delhi and Islamabad were not consulting Kashmiris for a resolution of the Kashmir problem.
“Kashmiris from both sides of the line of control (LOC) are neither heard nor listened to by their respective governments,” Khan said.
“The two governments have also not brought the element of settlement into public. Besides, there is a lack of will in the two governments to implement the agreed measures. I think civil society can force India and Pakistan governments to take the final decision,” he said.
Khan, however, agreed that India and Pakistan had definitely moved ahead in the dialogue process that started between the two countries in 2004.
“After 2004, even hardcore cynics like me had begun to see changes on the ground. In this conference we have gathered to see what Kashmiris feel about the future of their homeland,” Khan said.
He said terrorism was the common enemy of both the countries.
“We perfectly understand the anger which people in India felt about 26/11. People who perpetuate events like 26/11 are our common enemies,” Khan said in reference to Mumbai terror attacks Nov 26-28 that killed over 170 people.
Former Pakistan-administered Kashmir finance minister Chowdhary Lateef, who is also attending the conference, said all road and communication links between the two parts of Kashmir should be opened.
“Once we cross Pathankot (Punjab) to this side of Kashmir we lose all contact with outside world, which is ironic,” he said.
Senior journalist based in Indian-administered Kashmir and Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation associate Muhammad Sayeed Malik said there is no better way to overcome the trust deficit between India and Pakistan than to talk and share thoughts.
Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan is also attending the conference being held in a hotel here.
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