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The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat on Wednesday said that the Kashmir issue could only be solved through political means.
"Kashmir problem is basically a political problem and can be resolved only by political means and not by clash of arms, nor simply by economic development or good governance," AIMMM president Syed Shahabuddin said in Srinagar.
He said there was a strong desire among the people of the state that both India and Pakistan should resume a dialogue on all bilateral issues, including the Kashmir problem, which might lead to freedom of "peaceful intercourse between the people divided by the Line of Control".
"This may perhaps lead to the eventual unification of the divided people of Kashmir. Both parts of Kashmir should be given autonomy and the people allowed free passage."
Shahabuddin, who was accompanied by other Muslim leaders, met separatists, including All Party Hurriyat conference leaders Moulvi Omar Farooq and Shabir Ahmad Shah.
The delegation also met leaders of the ruling National Conference, Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, state human rights commission officials and eminent lawyers.
"The people long for peace and for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir problem," Shahabuddin said.
He, however, added, "But the state is still under a virtual state of emergency. There is fear and tension in the air, with sporadic violence."
The former member of Parliament said that the people "nurse a deep alienation with the political system and cynicism about the democratic process due to their sad experience and broken promises and fresh undertakings."
He said the people did not see the coming elections as "the solution, or even as the first step towards a final settlement. The people strongly feel that there can be no free and fair elections, even with the presence of eminent observers, national or foreign unless there is freedom from fear, freedom of expression and of assembly, indeed, unless the repressive machinery of the state is dismantled and still raging militancy and counter-militancy are brought to an end".
He said that for the success of any dialogue, the Centre should take "due preparatory steps to create a conducive environment, such as releasing the political detainees, reducing the visible presence of the security forces in the inhabited areas, suspending the operation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Disturbed Areas Act, minimising recourse to the Public Safety Act and the POTA and disbanding the special task force and the special police officers, withdrawing support from pro-government militants and reaching an agreement with militants for a lasting ceasefire".
He said at the next stage the Centre should set the ball rolling by convening a conference of all significant political formations, the APHC and this conference would throw up all possible options and pave the path for a frank exchange and emergence of a feasible consensus.
"The dialogue will generate confidence in the democratic process and motivate people to participate massively in the assembly elections when held."
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