Syed Ali Gilani Says Ready to Talk to India

NEW DELHI: Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani surprisingly deviated his longtime hard-line stand on Thursday when he hinted at holding bilateral talks with India.

Chief of his own faction of separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is a firm supporter of Kashmir’s independence from Indian occupation and union of the disputed valley with Pakistan by Kashmiri’s right of self determination.

“Kashmir issue can be resolved by negotiations and Hurriyat Conference is ready to sit with India to resolve the longstanding dispute,” Gilani told the newsmen in New Delhi.

Gilani, 81, has always insisted on resolving the dispute by holding trilateral talks involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiris in the light of United Nations’ resolutions.

“Our party has adopted a mildness in its stance and is ready to talk to India besides the fact that India has not acted upon the U.N.’s resolutions,” he added.