8216;It8217;s a post-9/11 world8217;

Why did the Hurriyat Conference split?Because Syed Ali Geelani wanted it to split and he should take the blame. If he wanted to become the c...

Why did the Hurriyat Conference split?
Because Syed Ali Geelani wanted it to split and he should take the blame. If he wanted to become the chairman of the Hurriyat, he should have told us. Together with Mirwaiz Omar and Mohammad Yasin Malik, I visited his residence three times to invite him for talks but he refused. Even now I am prepared to give up the post of chairman if it leads to reconciliation.

The other group believes you sold out the separatist cause.
What is the separatist cause? To see people in Kashmir continue to die? If these people want violence, then we aren8217;t for it. In the post-9/11 world danda stick politics has no place. We believe in a solution of the Kashmir problem that can be reached in a dignified and peaceful manner.

All the major militant groups operating in the Valley have backed the Geelani-led Hurriyat group and even Pakistan is sending out subtle signals.
The people who broke away from the Hurriyat have violated it8217;s constitution. Under our constitution they have no right to do so. There exodus would have no impact on the Hurriyat as they command no mass support.

Amid all the bickering over who commands the Hurriyat and sudden upswing in militant attacks, do you feel peace-making fits anywhere?
Sure, peace has a place. But we want the bloodletting to stop. The recent blast in Parimpora that killed innocent civilians shouldn8217;t have happened. Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for it and later apologised. If security forces would have done it we would have gone on rooftops to condemn it. We have to stop violence from both sides.

BLACK038;WHITE: RELATED STORIES

AND THE GUNS RETURN TO PARADISE

THE VIEW/FROM ABROAD: Talks? Dialogue? Are you crazy?

THE VIEW/AT HOME: When too many people talk too much

THE VIEW/KASHMIR WATCHERS: It8217;s getting better 8230; no, worse

INTERVIEW/SYED ALI GEELANI: 8216;No surrender to India8217;

INTERVIEW/MAULVI ABBAS ANSARI: 8216;It8217;s a post-9/11 world8217;