Search the Internet           Tips

Give peace a chance: Lone tells militants

"Non-Kashmiri militants will have to leave the arena when the political dialogue starts," Lone said on his return to Srinagar after a three-week long visit to Islamabad to solemnise the marriage of his son.

Lone said he had made it clear to some Pakistani leaders and commanders of militant outfits that 'peace needs to be given a chance in the state' and all militant outfits should come out with a open stand to support the issue.

"My belief is that peace needs to be given a chance and all militant outfits should come with an united response to Vajpayee's peace initiative," Lone said.

He also sounded a word of caution - "People should be cautious that there are vested interests who believe in sabotaging even this peace process."

Asked about the rift in the Hurriyat over his statement that fundamentalists were a threat to peace in J&K, Lone, who was accompanied by Sheikh Ali Mohammed of Jamaat-e-Islamia, said "I stand by the statement. I am a heavyweight and have the guts to stand by what I had said."

Lone had met Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf during his stay in Islamabad. Asked whether he was carrying any message from Musharraf, Lone said, "I met him and he convinced me about the Pakistani stand. He is not happy over the stand taken by the Indian government."

However, Lone, president of the People's Conference, said he (Musharraf) is still hopeful of a positive response from the Indian side.

On the insistence of Pakistan to be involved in the talks, Lone said, "The dispute on Kashmir should be solved. Both the countries should remember that none of the concerned parties is left out."

Lone had left for Pakistan on November 16 to perform his son Sajjad Lone's marriage to Ashma, daughter of J&K Liberation Front chairman Amanullah Khan.

About his discussions with militant leaders, including supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lone said, "Since did not have a mandate to talk to them, I would prefer to remain silent on this issue."

But Lone made it clear that Hurriyat leadership should be allowed to go to Pakistan and meet the militant leaders so that a formal strategy was cleared for a positive response to Indian's ceasefire offer.

Asked whether Pakistan had assured him to put an end to cross border terrorism, a pre-condition by India before starting a dialogue, Lone said, "This issue is also disputed and should be a part of negotiations."

COMPLETE COVERAGE
Government initiated ceasefire in J&K

Tell us what you think of this report