It is a good gesture on the part of Mr Modi to stopover in Pakistan. It looks like Vajpayee's approach is being revisited, Mirwaiz told dna.
Look who is hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'good gesture' to drop by in Pakistan!
Excited by Modi's impromptu visit to Lahore, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has likened the initiative to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's approach (of diplomacy to reach out to its neighbours).
"It is a good gesture on the part of Mr Modi to stopover in Pakistan. It looks like Vajpayee's approach is being revisited," Mirwaiz told dna.
In fact, Vajpayee offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan from Kashmir when he addressed around 20,000 people at Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium in 2003. Vajpayee was also instrumental in bringing separatists on board by saying talks will be held within the ambit of insanyat (humanity). Later, the moderate faction of Hurriyat held two rounds of dialogue with former deputy prime minister LK Advani during NDA I.
Mirwaiz, who is also the chief cleric of Kashmir, noted that as a Kashmiri they always welcome any opportunity that brings India and Pakistan close.
"We believe our issue will not be resolved unless two countries come closer to each other. There seems to be a realisation at government levels in India and Pakistan that we need to engage. Simultaneously, Kashmir, being the key issue, is to be addressed politically. In that context India and Pakistan have to find a mechanism in terms how to involve Kashmiris in that process as well," he said.
Mirwaiz also expressed readiness to engage with both India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue. "We have always said we want engagement with both India and Pakistan," he said.
Hurriyat hawks led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, however, were not amused by Modi's Lahore visit saying such gestures will not have any impact unless the core issue of Kashmir is resolved.
"We have seen Vajpayee visiting Pakistan. We have seen former Pakistani president Zai ul Haq visiting India to witness cricket match. Unless the core issue of Kashmir is resolved, these gestures will not help. We have seen prime ministers shaking hands and the next day there is shelling on the borders," Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of Geelani-led hardline faction of Hurriyat, told dna.
Main opposition National Conference, however, cautioned against the knee-jerk reaction and a lack of consistency in the relations. "Indo-Pak relations have been plagued by knee-jerk reactions & a lack of consistency.
Looking towards two PMs to correct this time," tweeted Omar Abdullah, former J&K chief minister.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed too welcomed Modi's stopover at Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart.
"This is an evolutionary process and a step in the right direction. It indicates Prime Minister's resolve to enter into a long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan. Hope that the meeting between the two leaders will provide the much-needed momentum to the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue for peaceful resolution of all issues," Mufti, who is convalescing in a Delhi hospital, said in a statement.
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