‘Resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue’
SRINAGAR: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai Sunday expressed concern over the escalating tension along the border, and appealed to both India and Pakistan to avoid the path of confrontation and resolve outstanding issues particularly Kashmir through dialogue and work for de-escalation of the situation in the state.
In a statement to KNS he said it is the hapless, poor and innocent civilians of Jammu and Kashmir who lose their precious lives and properties. “And during the last so many decades, the biggest price for this confrontation has been paid by the Kashmiri people on both sides of the divide,” Sehrai said.
Terming escalation in the hostilities between India and Pakistan on borders as “worrisome and dangerous” to the peace of the region and entire sub-continent, the TeH chief reiterated his appeal to the leadership of both the nations to show maturity and wisdom and de-escalate the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sehrai also expressed dismay and anguish the way tourists and yatris were asked by the government to vacate the valley. “From centuries Kashmiris have been safeguarding millions of tourists and yatris coming from all over the world including India and providing exemplary hospitality and safety as we have been taught hospitality, humanity and safeguarding the rights of guests by our religion, but this mass exodus of yatris and tourists is very painful and also aimed to hit our economic backbone,” he said.
“It also proved who conspired such mass exodus be it in 1990 or today’s unfortunate mass departure of our guests. Stopping yatris from performing their religious obligations is very unfortunate and inhuman. Even the governor himself reiterated many times that it were the people of Kashmir who graciously facilitated these religious congregations then what forced GoI to curtail and stop it,” he asked.
Meanwhile, Sehrai condemned the “arrest spree” of youth and political activists in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Pulwama districts during raids that include Fayaz Ahmed Das ,Mohammad Shafi Khan, Riyaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ashiq Narchoor and Aaster Ali Mohammad of Hajin and Bashir Ahmed of Anantnag.
“Auch arrests and nocturnal raids are most undemocratic and virtually a political witch hunt and nothing else,” he added.