Kashmir an integral part of India, says EU

Srinagar: A European Union delegation, on a two-day visit to the valley, on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and important part of India.

“Kashmir is an integral and important part of India,” Swedish Ambassador to India Lors Olof Lindgren, the head of the five-member EU delegation, said in Srinagar.

“We want a peaceful resolution of the issue through peace talks between India and Pakistan and those concerned within Kashmir,” he said.

“We are here not to solve the Kashmir issue. We are here to understand the situation. We are here to interact with people and know about their views. We also want to see how separatists look at the situation,” Lindgren explained.

The Swedish envoy said the delegation appreciated the overall improvement in the human rights situation in the valley.

“European Union delegations are visiting the valley from time to time and we appreciate the improvement in the human rights situation,” he said.

The delegation, which includes woman member Daniele, met separatists leaders Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq at their respective residences in Srinagar.

During the meeting, Malik, the JKLF chairman, said he highlighted the need for tripartite parleys among India, Pakistan and Kashmiris for peaceful resolution of the vexed issue.

Commenting on the meeting between the chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference and the delegation, an amalgam statement said Mirwaiz briefed EU members about the genesis of the Kashmir issue and the need for its early solution.

“The Hurriyat chairman informed the delegation about the Kashmir issue, the human rights situation and efforts of the amalgam to seek a peaceful resolution of the issue,” the statement said.

It said Mirwaiz also told the delegation about the need for involvement of all the three parties - India, Pakistan and Kashmiris - in the dialogue for resolving the issue.

The JKLF chairman briefed the EU delegation about the human rights situation in the valley.

Earlier, the delegation visited the army headquarters at Badamibagh cantonment and was briefed by senior officers about the situation in Kashmir.