Introspection of stakeholders a prelude to dialogue, trust building: O P Shah

Srinagar: Noted political analyst and track II diplomat O P Shah on his return from Pakistan air dashed to Srinagar and held extensive meetings with top separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani the Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Muslim Conference chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and veteran mainstream leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah and M Y Tarigami to know their response on the desire of Pak civil society for dialogue over Kashmir and good neighbor relations between India and Pakistan.

Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), O P Shah said “all stakeholders have to introspect themselves to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue over Kashmir as this is my belief after knowing the views of top political leaders and civil society in Pakistan including former foreign minister Khursheed Kasoori, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan, another former foreign minister Shah Mohammad Qureshi, some sitting and retired judges of Pakistan and senior journalists of that country.” He said people of all shades in Pakistan with whom I held several meetings showed their deep interest in establishing friendly relations with India and resolution of all issues concerning peace and stability through dialogue.

Replying to a question O P Shah said “both national and local media have to act as a bridge for rebuilding trust and creating a conducive atmosphere for meaningful dialogue over Kashmir.”

Admitting that some national TV channels and news papers are portraying an unhealthy picture about the happenings in Kashmir that damages the prospectus of peace and working of democratic institutions in the State, O P Shah said the media has to show responsibility for portraying the real picture of Kashmir to disallow any negative propaganda on Kashmir situation.

Confirming that he held extensive meetings with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who, he said, also endorsed the view that dialogue is the only way forward but they said the rigidity Government of India has been showing in creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue. Geelani, he said, made a point that several rounds of dialogue on Kashmir initiated by India and Pakistan didn’t bear fruits due to the non seriousness and insensitivity shown by the Government of India. He also confirmed his meetings with National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, NC Provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, senior PDP leaders Nizam-u-Din Bhat and Dr Mehboob Beg and CPI(M) secretary M Y Tarigami. He favored increase in the intensity of people to people contacts between the people of the divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir and the people of India and Pakistan for peace and regional stability in the Indian sub continent and hinted the possibility of handing over a report on the feedback he received in Pakistan and Kashmir to the incumbent Modi Government in Delhi, as he said “though I am not in government but will surely play a constructive role for bridging the gaps between India and Pakistan and smoothening their relations for restoring peace and stability in Indian sub continent.