India s initiative on Kashmir not sincere , says Pakistan

Islamabad Oct 24 (IANS) Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed India s decision to appoint an interlocutor to talk to all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir as insincere and unrealistic.

If anything the announcement proved the futility of the use of force and of the indispensability of dialogue vis-a-vis the Jammu and Kashmir dispute the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

New Delhi designated former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its representative to initiate "interaction and dialogue to understand the legitimate aspirations of the people" in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Ministry spokesman said the measure did not appear to be sincere and realistic.

Also for any dialogue process to be meaningful and result-oriented "it has to include the three main parties - India Pakistan and the Kashmiris.

"In that context without the participation of the Hurriyat leadership no interaction or dialogue would carry any weight or meaning " the spokesman said.

The spokesman emphasized that the need of the hour was to end "Indian state-sponsored terrorism" in Jammu and Kashmir and resolving the lingering dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

India and Pakistan dispute the ownership of Jammu and Kashmir and control parts of the state.

--IANS
mr/rn