Mirwaiz slams hawks: Happy to see deaths to keep their jobs

Calling the hardliners’ approach ‘‘compulsive antagonism,’’ Mirwaiz went on to explain to his audience the resumed dialogue process with Delhi. His words assume extra significance given that he is scheduled to meet Pak President General Pervez Musharraf in New York on September 17.

‘‘We are not talking (with Delhi) to attain power,’’ he said. ‘‘We want talks for a resolution of Kashmir. And we are talking as an equal party to the dispute. Where do we go wrong then?’’

This was loudly cheered by the crowd. The Hurriyat, Mirwaiz said, is now a part of the triangular dialogue, though not on the same table as New Delhi didn’t agree to such a mechanism. ‘‘We are talking separately to India and Pakistan. It is equivalent to a tripartite dialogue. How can we shy away from this?’’

‘‘This time Pakistan is solidly behind us,’’ he said. He made a specific mention of his forthcoming meeting with Musharraf, saying this would help consolidate the process and take the dialogue forward. ‘‘We already made proposals to Prime Minister Singh. And in my meeting with President Musharraf, I will discuss these proposals with him as well.’’

In an oblique reference to the arrest of Dukhataran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi and her associates, he accused the state government of playing spoilsport. ‘‘There are some parties who think we are out to grab power and thus feel threatened. So they are trying to discredit us,’’ he said.

Mirwaiz also appealed to other separatists to join the process.