Resolve Kashmir dispute: Shah

Srinagar, June 03: The president of Democratic Freedom Party , Shabir Ahmed Shah has stressed the need for resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions. “If the referendum was carried in South Sudan and East Timor, why it cannot be held here? If the resolutions of UN are not practicable, then tripartite talks between Kashmiris, India and Pakistan should be initiated for resolving the issue,” Shah told the Kashmir Committee delegation led by Ram Jaitmalani here on Friday . Shah told them that civil society groups of India, Pakistan could build pressure on their respective governments to resolve the dispute in sync with the sentiments of people. He told the delegates that hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris have laid their precious lives to achieve the cherished goal. Rejecting the Indian contention he made it clear that Kashmir issue was primarily the issue of right to self-determination, which he said involves the life of billions of people of South Asia. "Kashmir is not a law and order problem, it is not an issue relating to the transition of power or seeking concessions rather it is an issue of  right to self-determination of more than 15-million people of Kashmir", he said. While thanking the delegates Shah said that KC can play an important role by paving a way for a peaceful settlement of K-dispute. He, however, maintained that Kashmiris were not averse to talks but dialogue should meaningful, result oriented and Kashmir centric.