India barring Kashmiri leaders from Pakistan visit: Ansari
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR: Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, senior leader of a Kashmiri group Monday said that the Indian government was delaying passports of Kashmiri leaders and placing Pakistan as a barred country in their documents.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been issued a passport after one year, which has a validity of three months and cannot be used for travel to Pakistan, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari said in an interview in Held Kashmir, according to a news report.

"We have followed the proper method in applying for passports but it seems the government is not interested in allowing the visit (to Pakistan)", he said referring to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's statement that the Centre will consider letting Kashmiri leaders visit Pakistan if they followed the proper method.

"The Home Minister said there are no curbs on visiting Pakistan. Then we should be allowed to go", he added.

Maulana Ansari reiterated that a visit to Pakistan was must before the peace process could be restarted. Ansari said APHC was for a dialogue between India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership for peaceful and long-lasting solution of the Kashmir issue. "We are ready for talks as always... but we have to take all the concerned along on the way to peace", he added.

The Kashmir leader further said "we also have to talk to the leadership on the other side of the Line of Control before we proceed any further with the Centre". Pakistan has also said that a solution to the Kashmir issue was not possible without taking the Kashmiri leadership into confidence, he added.

Indian journalist to begin AJK visit from Nov 22: AIR

A group of Indian journalists will visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir and northern areas of Gilgit Baltistan to observe the living conditions of the people.

The visit that is beginning on November 22, will continue for several days, AIR reports.●