Geelani praises Omar for describing Kashmir international dispute

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday attracted rare appreciation from unexpected corner-- hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani .

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday attracted rare appreciation from unexpected corner-- hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani -- for calling the instrument of accession “temporary and conditional” and describing Kashmir as "an international dispute."

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“The fact of the Kashmir dispute is so stark that willingly or unwillingly Omar Abdullah had to accept the fact that Kashmir is an international dispute,” said Geelani in a statement issued today.

Abdullah on Wednesday addressed the state Assembly and delivered a passionate speech wherein he described the accession as temporary and termed Kashmir a global issue.

“Abdullah’s statement is success of the Hurriyat stand over the Kashmir dispute…the historical facts of the dispute are so strong that they speak for themselves --- from the United Nations to J-K Assembly,” said Geelani.

He was quick to take a dig at the chief minister. “What chief minister said in the assembly, like accession is conditional and temporary, is just half truth. The very instrument of accession is doubtful. India in 1947 promised people of Kashmir that it will withdraw troops after situation will normalize and hold a plebiscite. That did not happen,” said Geelani.

“As long as illegal occupation of Kashmir is not ended, no change in nomenclature like calling chief minister Wazir-e-Azam will work,” said Geelani.