SRINAGAR, India – India says at least two of its soldiers were killed in an exchange of gunfire with Pakistani troops and Kashmiri insurgents in Indian-controlled Kashmir. “We had not kept any hopes with the meeting anyway and no breakthrough has happened for us”, Akbar told The Kashmir Monitor. “It was just a diplomatic compulsion for the prime ministers of the two countries”, Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, told PTI.
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In August 2014, India cancelled talks with Pakistan after Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi consulted Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of secretary level talks. They are on the mercy of insurgents. “These have been going on and such meetings are not result-oriented”, he added.
“If Kashmir remains unresolved, any other issue between the two countries won’t be resolved either”.
While welcoming the resumption of high-level contact between the two countries, he said, “Though there are a number of contending issues between the two countries but it remains a fact that Kashmir has always remained the fundamental cause of sour relationship and at times armed conflict between the two nations”.
“Dialogue should not be for fun, timepass and putting real issues on the back-burner”.
This is due to the huge amount of subsidy which Indian government gives to its sector and this is the main reason why Pakistan, which before partition, was exporting agriculture items, is now importing those products.
Expressing concern over the India-Myanmar border becoming “more active” as there were reports of insurgents, weapons and drugs crossing this border, the home minister said a committee has been constituted to review how to effectively manage the India-Myanmar border. This non-seriousness and inconclusive attitude is responsible for the disaster of Kashmiri nation, which has lost its three generations in the last six decades.
The dinner is being held every year for the Kashmiri leaders. Neither can it be sidelined nor ignored.
Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples.
He, however, said that unless talks were held on Kashmir, the dialogue process can not move forward.
“Now, the High Commission will be holding an Eid Milan party where once again there will be Kashmiris and others invited”. Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation.
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The Minister hoped that Modi’s visit to Pakistan next year will mark a new beginning for peace and progress in the region. “I hope this will turn out to be a significant step to set a new agenda for reconciliation and resolution between the two countries”, he said.
