Hurriyat proposes Indo-Pak summit on Kashmir issue

SRINAGAR: Terming the protracted Kashmir-issue as a "political" one, moderate Hurriyat Conference today proposed an Indo-Pak summit on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) to address the issue in the larger interest of friendship, peace and prosperity in the region.

"We propose an Indo-Pak summit wherein the leadership of two countries along with Kashmiris can sit together to move forward and address the Kashmir (problem)," Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said addressing a seminar at Amalgam headquarters here.

A proposed summit in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad (capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) could be a big leap forward, he said.

Apparently referring to the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal section of Kashmir rail project next week, Mirwaiz said "Kashmir is a political problem which cannot be solved by economic packages or rail services.

"Kashmir issue needs political will and political approach for resolution. You need a road map and we feel it lies with the Kashmiris," he said.