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Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone on Wednesday said India and Pakistan should accept Kashmiris as a third party in the Kashmir issue and initiate a dialogue with them.
The problem in Kashmir was that there was a "huge mass of dissatisfied people", who could be used by anybody at any point of time, Lone told reporters, adding they should be taken into confidence.
He said problems could not be settled by shoving them under the carpet.
The government would be committing a "blunder" if it tried to sideline or minimise the importance of Hurriyat, which represented the sentiments and aspirations of the Kashmiris, he said.
On the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in New York, Lone hoped it would be successful.
"We hope sense will dawn on them and both the leaders will rise above the feedings of intelligence agencies and extremist elements and address the issue on a realistic note," he said.
Lone said Hurriyat Conference was interested more than anybody else in the resolution of the Kashmir issue since they were now at the "receiving end".
The problems in any other state could not be compared with Kashmir as the latter had a separate background, he said, adding India had gone back on its commitment that Kashmir's accession would be ratified by the people.
Asked whether third-party mediation could solve the issue, he said the Hurriyat welcomed any step, which would lead to a solution.
PTI
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