Srinagar, May 16:
The Arab League Monday said it has “no position” on resolution of Kashmir issue.
“The League of Arab States has no position on the specific question of Jammu and Kashmir. We are looking forward for peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the whole region,” Arab League Ambassador to India, Ahmed Salem al Wahishi, told reporters here on the sidelines of a “Peace Conference” organized by J&K Peace Foundation.
Though he didn’t elaborate, the Ambassador said Jammu and Kashmir has passed through “violent situation of confusion and hatred for last 20 years. We hope that peace will prevail in the region.”
He was however all praise for beauty of Kashmir. Kashmir, he said is the “most preferred tourist place in the world. It is a real paradise.”
The statement by Ambassador Arab League, which is an amalgam of 22 Arab countries, comes three days after a European Union delegation led by its Ambassador to India, Danielle Smajda, said Kashmir issue has to be resolved by the people living in the region.
Wahishi said the Arab League wanted peace in West Asia and the entire continent.
“We want peace to last in West Asia, in South Asia and in whole of the continent,” he said.
Addressing the conference earlier, Wahishi called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab territories and supported the call for Palestinian freedom.
“We also took this opportunity to express our thanks to the Indian government for their principled position in efforts for justice and peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative for Palestinian independence and two-state solution,” Wahishi said.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Governor NN Vohra said government had “succeeded to some extent” to address the internal dimension of Kashmir issue but he blamed Pakistan for “carrying out sustained efforts” to disrupt peace in the state.
“Kashmir (issue) has two dimensions—internal and external. As far as internal dimension is concerned we have succeeded somehow to some extent but there are sustained efforts from across LoC to disrupt peace,” he said.
The foremost requirement in JK, Vohra said, is to build peace and ensure normalcy.
“I have been appealing to all political parties, traders, and other to play their role for fostering an environment in which we can work to build Kashmir and strengthen the bonds of communal harmony.” This, he said, was high time to promote peace and normalcy in Kashmir.
Referring to the strike calls by chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani, the Governor said repeated calls for closure has left severe impact on governance, education and every other sector.
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