Kashmiri leaders plan visit to China, IRAN

Srinagar, Nov 21: Encouraged by China and Iran’s recent stand on Kashmir, both factions of Hurriyat Conference are planning to visit the two countries to mobilize their ‘permanent’ diplomatic support towards resolution of the Kashmir issue.

As part of the process, the chairmen of the two factions will meet the envoys of the two countries during their scheduled visits to New Delhi in coming days.

“A visit to Iran and China will not only strengthen our movement on diplomatic front but will help us to garner more international support for resolution of Kashmir issue. Like Pakistan, we have to garner support from these countries to pressurise India to resolve the Kashmir issue amicably and according to UN resolutions,” Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani told Rising Kashmir.

He said during his planned visit to New Delhi he would be meeting the envoys of China and Iran. “I would meet the ambassadors of the two countries to formulate a proper mechanism for a formal visit,” Geelani said adding, “A permanent support for the implementation of UN resolutions will strengthen our long-pending demand for Right to Self Determination to allow Kashmiris to determine their fate”.

He, however, said any visit to these countries will be subject to the issuance of travel documents by the Indian authorities.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also said that his conglomerate is working on diplomatic front for such a visit. “International support for Kashmir is must and we will surely visit these countries whenever such an opportunity comes. We are working on such things and as a first step we would be meeting the envoys of China and Iran during my scheduled visit to Indian capital in the coming weeks,” Mirwaiz said.

He said China’s stand on Kashmir has always been encouraging and the recent statement by Iranian spiritual leader on Kashmir is a beginning of support building process on international level for resolution of Kashmir issue. “To garner the support permanently, visits to these countries is necessary and must,” he said.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman said the senior conglomerate leader Aga Syed Hassan has been frequently visiting Iran, apprising its leaders about the Kashmir situation and its implications on the peace and stability of the region.

He said he has a standing invitation from a Chinese NGO and plans to visit Iran as well in the near future.

CPI (M) calls for All-India shutdown in support of Kashmiris

Hyderabad (India), September 27  The Communist Party of India (Maoist), declaring that Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination is completely justified, has called for a 24-hour All India shutdown on September 30 to protest the death of more than 100 civilians in occupied Kashmir in last three months.

The CPI (M) in a statement said, “We firmly believe that Kashmiri movement for freedom and their right to self-determination is completely justified.” It said that Indian forces were carrying out massacres and oppressing the democratic rights of Kashmiri people. It demanded immediate withdrawal of Indian army and paramilitary forces from the Kashmir Valley, repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

The statement, signed by Abhay, spokesperson for the central committee, and Anand, central regional bureau spokesperson, said that the determination and sacrifices of Kashmiris would forever be etched in the annals of history. “We express deep condolences to all the martyrs' families and to the whole Kashmiri society who had lost their beloved sons and daughters to the bullets of the troops,” the statement maintained.(Writer-South Asia)