Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 17

As Pakistan has gone into an overdrive to internationalise the K-issue, separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley — which has been in the midst of a major unrest — also initiated a campaign to reach out to world leaders.Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads a faction of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, wrote a letter on Sunday which, his party said, has been sent to Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Turkey, King of Saudi Arabia, presidents of China and Iran.The copies of the letter have also been sent to the United Nations Security Council, heads of UNSC permanent members, European Union, Organisation of Islamic Countries, South Asian Association of Regional Countries and the Association Southeast Asian Nations.The letter, which requested the international community to intervene and urge India to take confidence-building measures, comes at a time when Pakistan has upped the ante on Kashmir amid an unrest in the region that was triggered by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.At least 38 civilians have been killed as the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force made attempts to quell the protests that have continued across the Kashmir valley since Saturday last week.India has strongly reacted to Pakistan’s attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue even as Islamabad has shown no intent of backing down despite the United States’ appeal for reducing “rhetoric and violence”.Geelani, who has been demanding Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, in his letter asked the world bodies and leaders to urge India to take six confidence-building measures which include acceptance of “disputed nature” of Jammu and Kashmir, rapid demilitarisation of population centres, repeal AFSPA and the Public Safety Act, release political prisoners, allow various international human rights groups to work in Kashmir and ensure free political space.

For intervention

• Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads the hardline faction of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, has written to Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Turkey, King of Saudi Arabia, presidents of China and Iran
• He has asked international community to urge India to take confidence-building measures