After a meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in the US, moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has accused New Delhi of not 'reciprocating' the gestures by Islamabad for finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem.
The Mirwaiz, who is in the US to participate in seminars organised by the Kashmiri-American Council, told reporters that Pakistan had been 'very accomodative. But I see no flexibility in India's attitude. Unless India reciprocates, I do not see the peace process going anywhere'.
He claimed that during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his group was informed of several steps being taken to ease tension in Jammu and Kashmir, including withdrawal of troops.
"When we met the prime minister, he promised to take a number of steps to improve the situation, to make life easy for ordinary Kashmiris but nothing happened," he said, accusing the Centre of not fulfilling promises made to Pakistan and the Kashmiri separatist leadership.
The 33-year-old separatist leader went on to describe Dr Singh as 'a sweet person, nice to talk to', but said 'he never takes any concrete step to fulfil his pledges'.
The Mirwaiz also called for granting clemency to Mohammed Afzal Guru, facing execution for his role in the attack on Parliament in 2001, and said that if New Delhi went ahead with the hanging, 'the consequences will be negative' to the peace process in Kashmir.
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