APHC welcomes Hillary's stand on Kashmir

Former All Party Hurriyat Conference Chairman Abdul Gani Bhatt has welcomed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's viewpoint that the Kashmir issue must be looked at from a fresh angle that may lead to finding an amicable solution to the problem.

Talking to rediff.com from his residence in Srinagar, Bhatt said that the APHC did not use the opportunity to meet Hillary Clinton as she was on an official tour to India.

"She was the State guest and it would not have been proper to meet her. Whenever we want to sound our voice on a particular point we would see the American ambassador and tell him about it," Bhatt said.

On behalf of APHC he welcomed the joint statement issued at the end of the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Bhatt felt that time had come to take bold action so that a solution could be found to the Kashmir issue. The joint statement does precisely that, he said, adding that it will lead to restoration of sensitivity in this region and stop bloodshed on the streets.

When asked if the government of India should ask terrorists to give up guns and join the talks, Bhatt's response was aggressive.

"Let us not get into the issue of who had the gun and who did not. All we know this initiative needs to be welcomed. We hope that India and Pakistan sit together -- later joined by the people of Kashmir -- to find amicable solution to Kashmir issue and restore sanity."