(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - 'Kashmir problem lingering for last 63 years is legacy of the partition of Indian Sub-Continent, a problem basically created by the British,' Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told visiting British envoy to India Sir Richard Stagg who called on him soon after his arrival here.
The out-going British High Commissioner to India arrived on a two day visit of Kashmir on Friday.
The high commissioner along with two aides - First Secretary Alex Bamford and political adviser Sushil Aaron - drove to old part of the city to meet the Mirwaiz who had been placed under house arrest by the authorities at his Nageen residence.
British diplomats were closeted with the moderate Kashmiri leader for over an hour, Hurriyat sources said.
Speaking to reporters later, Mirwaiz said that he briefed the envoys about the prevailing political and human rights situation in Kashmir and sought an effective role of the British government in resolving Kashmir.
“I told British diplomats that, it was the political and moral responsibility of the British government to play its effective role in seeking a peaceful and negotiable settlement of this grave issue.'
'I also informed them that Hurriyat would welcome any positive political engagement aimed at finding a lasting solution to the long standing problem, but we have not seen a single solid step on the part of Government of India to address the Kashmir issue”, Mirwaiz said.
“They (the diplomats) asked me why we don’t meet interlocutors. I told them that interlocutors have no role in the resolution of Kashmir issue and whole exercise was wastage of time.
“I briefed them about the peaceful movement going on in Kashmir.
I also told them how India was trying to link Kashmir with terrorism to defame our just struggle,” the Hurriyat chairman was quoted as saying.
Later on the day, the visiting British diplomats met Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, at his Gupkar residence where both had a detailed discussion on various issues.
In an hour long meeting, they discussed matters of socio-economic and political developments in the State.
The Chief Minister apprised Sir Richard of the new initiatives, State Government has taken for holistic and equitable development of all the regions and sub regions of the State, an official spokesman told IRNA.
He also talked about the measures in place to address unemployment crises and enhance the employability of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar gave resume of the measures under way to restore permanent peace and help faster development in the state, he said.
The British High Commissioner showed keen interest in the innovative steps, Jammu and Kashmir State has taken for peace and development in the state, the spokesman said.
The delegation was expected to meet Governor, N N Vohra later in the evening.
Similarly, the British diplomats are scheduled to meet Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik today while they will meet Director General Police, Kuldeep Khoda and Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, later in the day.
Besides High Commissioner Stagg the other members of the delegation included First Secretary Political, Alex Bamford, Defence Attaché Brigadier Nigel Wilimo and Political Advisor at High Commission, Sushil Arun.
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