Kashmiri separatist leader condemns Indian reaction to OIC envoy appointment

The known Kashmiri separatist leader and chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Tuesday night condemned New Delhi's reaction to the Organization of Islamic Conference's (OIC) appointment of an envoy on Kashmir.

Mirwaiz who recently returned after attending the OIC meeting in New York said OIC has offered to help in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan.

"OIC is the biggest international forum after UN. Whatever it says or resolves is after due consultation and serious deliberations. India's reaction to the statement is condemnable. The OIC wants Kashmir to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan and feels strongly that the process of dialogue and negotiations between the two countries must be re-started. India should come out of the denial mode," Mirwaiz said while addressing a press conference in Srinagar.

OIC , a 57-nation grouping of Islamic countries, has recently appointed Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al Bakr, OIC's assistant secretary-general for political affairs, as the special envoy on Kashmir.

The group has called for an early settlement to Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of people.

India has strongly reacted to OIC's remarks by saying OIC had no right to interfere into India's internal affairs.

Mirwaiz said that his faction would forge consensus among the separatists prior to approaching New Delhi and Islamabad.

"Kashmir is our problem. We have to take initiatives ourselves. We will be meeting the separatists leaders outside Hurriyat also to develop a consensus and set an agenda before moving to Islamabad and New Delhi," Mirwaiz said.

Source: Xinhua