Mufti Sayeed has no role in solving Kashmir issue; that space belongs to Hurriyat: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Members of the separatist Hurriyat Conference attended Pakistan National Day celebrations on Monday. Leader of the moderate Hurriyat faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, tells Sagarika Ghose good governance alone won't solve the Kashmir issue.

Another Pakistan National Day, another Hurriyat visit to Delhi?

I fail to see why such a hue and cry is being made about our visit to the Pakistan high commission. The media talks of the Hurriyat as terrorists and traitors. Half of Delhi is invited to the reception but the media only makes a hue and cry about Hurriyat. You must make a distinction between aspiration and grievance. We aren't against good governance, or a stable clean government.

We'll be happy to see a government that delivers.The bigger question is everything stops with government formation and elections. Is New Delhi prepared to address the sentiment, to address what we represent?
It was the same BJP government under Vajpayee that initiated talks with Hurriyat.

The government doesn't trust you. It broke off talks with Pakistan after their high commissioner met Hurriyat.

I was sad about that. It was such a small issue which was allowed to take India-Pakistan relations hostage. It was an injustice not only to the people of Kashmir but also to the people of India. This is the 21st century, it's a whole new world but we're stuck in 1947. I was hopeful that BJP would be a better and bolder government when it came to talks with Pakistan, but was sad when that happened.

Is the Hurriyat irrelevant in Kashmir now?

We aren't part of the electoral process, not part of government formation.

We have a clear view on the political and aspi rational aspects of the Kashmir issue and represent a strong sentiment.When the CM himself says we're relevant how can anyone say we are irrelevant? The question is whether New Delhi is ready to engage with the Kashmiri sentiment. We are an offshoot of the sentiment. Today it's the Hurriyat, tomorrow it could be someone else. The way this government is pushing Kashmir, it could happen. We see a rise in local militancy. We don't want that to happen, we want to keep things peaceful. Delhi has always looked at Kashmir from a biased angle.

Hurriyat is part of the Kashmir landscape and the sentiment is very much there, although it's different from day-to-day problems. Mainstream politicians talk of day-to-day governance, bjli-sadak-pani. That doesn't mean you've solved the Kashmir problem. We aren't averse to a credible government but if you want to look at a Kashmir solution you can't leave out Hurriyat. If we are not relevant, why not hold a referendum?

Haven't mainstream parties hijacked your agenda? Both PDP and NC talk of political and human rights?

The Mufti government is aware it has taken a huge political gamble, though he continues to talk the pro-Kashmir language, withdrawal of AFSPA. Mufti Sayeed has a defined role in delivering day-to-day governance. He has no role in the political resolution of the Kashmir problem.That space belongs to Hurriyat. There have been so many governments in Kashmir, nothing has changed.

Many in Kashmir may not be willing to buy Hurriyat's pro-Pakistan definition of azaadi Neither Pakistan nor India represents us. We represent no one but ourselves and have a stake in the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

What does Akbaruddin mean saying there's no third party involved?

We are the first party. We're the primary party when it comes to a Kashmir solution. Are Kashmiris dumb cattle who'll be taken along? New Delhi must understand that Pakistan is party to the Kashmir conflict, they control the other side of Kashmir, this division remains unresolved.

What did you discuss with the High Commissioner?

He briefed me about the talks between Delhi and Islamabad and said they were keen to move forward before Modi's Islamabad visit. They want to associate Kashmiri voices with this process. We want to be more of a bridge than a cause of friction.We want more engagement. We want the trust deficit to come down for both sides to start talking. We feel regional voices should be given their space.