KL Report
Srinagar
Pugwash Conference on Jammu and Kashmir is being held in Pakistan from August 18-20 and the organizers have formally extended invitation to various separatist and mainstreams leaders in the state.
The global NGO, Pugwash has delineated its goal which it said aims to discuss and develop ideas and proposals for reduction of restrictions on cross-LOC movement in both parts of Kashmir and push for progressive demilitarization.
“The goal is to discuss and develop ideas and proposals that, if applied, would improve in concrete terms the connections across the LOC, would eliminate the restrictions that limit the movement and the freedom of the people in the entire region, and would promote economic cooperation and development in the entire region,” reads invitation extended by the NGO to various separatist and mainstream leaders.
In all, eleven points encompassing different issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir have been listed in the agenda for the discussion and includes “push for a progressive de-militarization of the region on both sides of LoC.”
The meeting also seeks to engage all former militants who would like to go back to political activity and establish an environment where confrontation is addressed in political terms.
Among others who confirmed invitation include Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and CPI (M) state general secretary and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami.
The conference is being held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. If everything goes as planned, the conference would be revived after seven years.
In 2006, leaders from both separatist and mainstream camps including then National Conference president and present chief minister, Omar Abdullah participated in the conference held in Islamabad.
Not only this, Omar and other participants had managed to get audience with then Pakistani president Gen Parvez Musharaff on the sidelines of conference.
The Pugwash first held a conference on Kashmir in 2004 in Kathmandu but it did not witness participation of many big- names of Kashmir politics.
In 2006, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad Gani Lone participated in a conference held by the organization in Cairo. Although the Conference focused on West Asia, there was a panel discussion on the Kashmir issue on its sidelines.
