DFP welcomes Pak-India ‘engagement’, calls for inclusion of Kashmiris
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has welcomed the reported engagement between India and Pakistan, calling all sincere efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting dialogue positive for regional peace and stability.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued by General Secretary Dr. Ghulam Rasool in Srinagar, DFP said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently advocated dialogue as the only credible means of resolving conflicts.
Dr. Rasool emphasized that any dialogue process which fails to address the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in a serious and result-oriented manner cannot deliver sustainable peace in South Asia.
“The Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the core issue between India and Pakistan. A durable peace in the region will remain elusive unless this internationally recognized dispute is resolved through peaceful negotiations,” he said.
Reaffirming DFP’s support for every genuine peace initiative, Dr. Rasool stressed that any meaningful peace process must include the genuine pro-freedom leadership and authentic representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are the principal party to the dispute. He warned that excluding Kashmiris from negotiations would undermine the credibility of any peace initiative, adding that an inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders is indispensable for a comprehensive and sustainable settlement.
Dr. Rasool reiterated that a peaceful resolution consistent with UN Security Council resolutions and the universally recognized right to self-determination is essential for lasting peace and stability in the region.
