A day after US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit, the Hurriyat Conference today said they were ready to contest the coming elections—provided the polls are the first step in a comprehensive process to resolve the Kashmir dispute permanently and not merely aimed at a change in local governance. Stating that ‘‘we are happy with Powell’s statement’’, chairman of the separatist conglomerate Abdul Gani Bhat, in an exclusive interview to The Indian Express, said: ‘‘He (Powell) said three main things—Kashmir is on the international agenda; all political prisoners should be released; and international observers monitor the process to ensure free and fair elections, which will be the first step, followed by a resumption of India-Pakistan talks.’’ He added: ‘‘We don’t have any problems in contesting elections if they are what the Americans say—the first step in a comprehensive process to resolve the dispute permanently. (But) what is the guarantee that it is actually the first step? We say let all the three parties—India, Pakistan and Kashmiris— accept this assorted principle and have an agreement to begin the process for permanent resolution of the dispute and let elections be a part of that process. We have no problems with that.’’ However, Bhat made it clear that elections merely for a change in local governance are meaningless. ‘‘The other way out is to contest such elections under the UN’s supervision,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘(But) the Government of India is not even ready to accept international observers to monitor these elections. We don’t think they will ever agree to what the Americans seek — to make elections a part of a process for a permanent resolution of the dispute.in fact, the Americans too agree on our stand that elections, in themselves, cannot resolve the dispute.’’ On infiltration, Bhat said: ‘‘Infiltration has stopped but the movement continues.’’ Pointing out that Powell too has called for release of political prisoners, he said: ‘‘Will the Indian government do that? I don’t think so.’’
