Author: M Saleem Pandit
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 7, 2004
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-876923,curpg-1.cms
Raising doubts over the Centre's
move to allow Pakistani journalists to visit Jammu and Kashmir, separatist
leader Syed Ali Geelani told them that his Hurriyat faction want Kashmir
to be part of Pakistan.
The pro-Pakistan leader was sceptical
of New Delhi's intention as well. "The prime objective of government of
India in permitting you to visit this state is to use it as a tactic to
delay the resolution of Kashmir problem in its historical perspective,"
Geelani told the visiting journalists who had called on him at breakfast
on Thursday.
Geelani said India wanted to bolster
its peace credentials by this press diplomacy.
His supporters too voiced their
vehement support. When Geelani said he would like Pakistan to annexe Kashmir,
the supporters chorused their assent.
Justifying his stand, Geelani said
an independent Kashmir was not feasible. It could survive only by being
part of the Muslim-majority country.
Replying to a question on the rift
in the Hurriyat, Geelani said the other Hurriyat had refused to take action
against People's Conference, a constituent of APHC, for fielding its candidate
in the last assembly elections.
Like Geelani, Asyia Andrabi, chief
of Dhuktaran-e-Millat, too disbelieves the press diplomacy. The lone woman
separatist leader even doubted the veracity of the travel documents of
the journalists. Andrabai had opposed the visit of Pakistani media persons.
Critics of the visit included the
United Jehad Council, an amalgam of 14 militant groups based in Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir. On Wednesday evening, the council said that the Pakistani
journalists were busy attending parties and touring tourist spots, while
people were being killed.
Syed Sadaqat Hussain, spokesman
of United Jehad Council, said, "The visit raises a question. If India denies
permission to Amnesty International, Asia Watch and International Red Cross
to visit Kashmir, why have Pakistani journalists been allowed?"
The statement said that since the
people of Kashmir have utmost affection for every Pakistani, it is all
but natural that they will extend a rousing welcome to the visiting journalists.
The council even threatened that
the visit will create a gulf between Pakistan and Kashmiris, if the visiting
journalists do not reach out to the "victims of Indian atrocities".