Mirwaiz for UN chief intervention
Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a special rapporteur on Kashmir and influence both India and Pakistan to resolve the issue “as per wishes and aspirations of its people”.
In a memorandum to be presented to Mr Ban Ki-moon, who is currently in Pakistan, the Mirwaiz has said, “You will use your influence to urge and prevail upon both India and Pakistan to take steps for a peaceful and permanent resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.” He said Kashmir is a political problem which can be resolved only through political means. “We’ve for long been advocating a meaningful result-oriented dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. To facilitate this process we seek the appointment of a special rapporteur of international stature,” the memorandum said.
The Mirwaiz has also said that the facilitation of a special rapporteur “is indispensable to help rebuild trust amongst the stakeholders and reinstate their confidence in the processes of dialogue”.
Referring to the recent “violent incidents” along the Line of Control and the resultant fatalities, he asserted, “These yet again point to the rather desperate need for the appointment of a rapporteur.”
After explaining his point of view on the issue of Kashmir and referring to the UN Security Council’s relevant resolutions on the issue, the Mirwaiz has said that it was regrettable that for the last 65 years India has “blatantly reneged on this commitment and systematically used brute military power to consolidate its hold over the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir”. He further said, “Five generations of Kashmiris have been the victims of largescale militarisation and have been forced to lead their lives under the perpetual shadow of the gun.”
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