PoK president invites pro-India politicians to discuss Article 370

SRINAGAR: In an interesting development in Cross LoC politics, president of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan, has extended invitations to pro-India politicians for participation in two-day round table conference in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad.

Two legislators from J&K assembly, Engineer Rashid of Awami Itehad Party and Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami of CPI (M) have been invited for the conference.

The invitation was also sent to pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and selected journalists, advocates and political analysts.

Earlier, in August 2015, Pakistan cancelled 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) following pressure from other members to invite the speaker of the legislature of J&K. Pakistan refused to invite the speaker from J&K legislature citing political compulsions, due to the disputed nature of the territory.

Two-day conference scheduled on January 20 and 21 in Islamabad, would be discussing, "Kashmir conflict: its ramifications for Indo-Pak relations and peace, Kashmir dispute, Hindutve and emergence of Hindu extremism in India, Proposed abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A of Indian Constitution and its impact on Kashmir dispute."

Earlier, retired General Pervez Musharraf, as president of Pakistan had invited pro-India politicians, including former chief minister Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti to Islamabad in 2007.

"Kashmiris across both sides of LoC need to understand each other and defeat the designs of those who want to take them for granted in any possible settlement to the dispute," said Rashid, in a statement. However, both Rashid and Tarigami are yet to decide about their participation.