Separatists welcome army chiefs’ peace cry

Srinagar: For a change, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's latest statement on Kashmir has been welcomed by mainstream and separatist leaders alike.

Gen. Rawat had on Sunday, while speaking at the 70th foundation day of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in New Delhi said, “There is hope that the situation in Kashmir will improve…it's not gone wrong. There are some youths in Kashmir who have strayed and have been radicalised. They think they can achieve their goal through guns." He had added, "But the time is not far when even they will be convinced that neither the forces nor the militants will be able to achieve their goal. We have to together find a way for peace and we will be successful in that.” On the same day, his Pakistani counterpart General Qamar Javed Bajwa said, "It is our sincere belief that the route to peaceful resolution of Pak-India disputes including the core issue of Kashmir runs through comprehensive and meaningful dialogue."

General Qamar Bajwa further said, "Pakistan remains committed to such a dialogue, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, and dignity.”

Reacting to the statements of the army chiefs of the two neighbours, the valley's chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted, "Indian Army chief admits to the futility of use of force and Pakistan Army chief talks of peace through dialogue. Its time their political counterparts accede to what their chiefs have realised and resolve the #Kashmir dispute through political measures putting an end to bloodshed."