Rashid seeks nod for Srinagar trip

Sheikh Rashid’s alleged involvement in training jehadis came to fore during the recent visit of Hurriyat leaders to Pakistan. Leader of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Yasin Malik, who is member of the moderate Hurriyat faction, had said in Pakistan that ‘‘Sheikh Rashid had played a great role for Kashmir’s liberation. He used to support frontline jehadis, but very few people know about his contribution’’.

Senior government officials said they would verify Malik’s statement and Sheikh Rashid’s background before deciding on the application.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Rashid today said in Islamabad that India and Pakistan should forget “old issues” and move forward with “open hearts” to resolve bilateral problems, including Kashmir.

“If we have to move forward, all the issues from Mukti Bahini camps to Sheikh Rashid’s hospitality house have to be forgotten,” he said.

The minister was speaking to senior editors and executives from the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) at a luncheon here.

About his proposed visit to Kashmir, Rashid said he was not certain about it, perhaps in view of demands by political parties in India not to permit him to undertake the trip.

Rashid said he had recently visited India with President Pervez Musharraf. “Now I want to go myself but I am not sure what will happen.”

Maintaining that Kashmir was the only issue between India and Pakistan, Rashid said it cannot be resolved without the involvement of the Kashmiris.