Young and bubbling with fresh ideas, the new generation of Kashmiri leaders is prepared to dump the hatred and bitterness of the past for a better future for the state.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah, People’s Democratic Party chairperson Mehbooba Mufti and All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who shared a platform for the first time at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Wednesday, resolved to open the doors to new thinking and shut out violence.

Speaking during the session on ‘New Thinking on Kashmir’, moderated by NDTV’s Barkha Dutt, the leaders called upon India and Pakistan to dismantle the walls of distrust and allow confidence-building measures to gain momentum. This came with a reminder: do not ignore the will of the people in the search for peace.

Mehbooba and the Mirwaiz were unanimous in suggesting that India should not wait for the last gun to fall silent before going in for more CBMs in J&K.

Omar said, "There is a willingness and also the ground for new thinking. And as we represent the next generation, we cannot allow the situation to remain what it is."

He said it was time the "out of box" solution came. “It can come only if we heed the words of the PM that a better future cannot be found with old ways of thinking." While the Mirwaiz and Mehbooba urged that there should be speed and better demonstration of will in dealing with the Kashmir situation, where the people were caught between the militants' violence and counterinsurgency forces' actions, they were unwilling to acknowledge Pakistan's role in the Kashmir crisis. Both said the reduction of troops in Kashmir would help both India and Pakistan rebuild their trust level and speed up the peace process. That would also help win the hearts of the people.

Omar said though India has already reduced troops, there was a need to look ahead with a fresh mind. He said while some signs of new thinking have emerged physically like the opening of the LoC at some points, the efforts lack speed.

Mehbooba said: "It (opening of LoC points) should not be mere photo opportunity or symbolism. There should be more openings and the people should be allowed to move freely."

On the Kashmir problem, Omar said: "It cannot be wished away. It is a dichotomy that Delhi is willing to talk to the Mirwaiz, who is asking for azadi, but it is uncomfortable talking to me who is asking for autonomy within the Indian Constitution."

The Mirwaiz said the Kashmir problem was "not about elections, governance or electoral gains or losses". "It is about sentiment of people deep rooted in our political thinking," he said.

The Mirwaiz said he was willing to be a part of the elections if it is held in Kashmir, on both sides of the LoC, with the sole objective to elect the representatives for holding dialogues. Omar was quick to term it "utopian".

"We need to look beyond India-Pakistan or Delhi-Kashmir as there is a third party that needs to be involved -- the people of Kashmir. Any desirable solution on Kashmir will be premature unless the aspirations of the people of Kashmir are taken into account," the Mirwaiz said.