JAMMU: Social activist and politician Swami Agnivesh on Thursday said that he has no objection if members of ISIS and terrorists from Pakistan are willing to join peace talks on Kashmir to begin from April first week in the Valley to resolve decades old ‘Kashmir turmoil’.
“Peace talks will be a continuous process and will not end unless we achieve our goal,” Swami Agnivesh told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
He was in the town to attend ‘Mahakaruna Diwas’ (Compassion in Action), organised by Leh based Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre.
Agnivesh said, “If ISIS members and terrorists from Pakistan want to be part of the peace talks, they will be welcomed because our aim is to restore peace and calm in the region.”
On Pakistan, the social activist said, “there is bloodshed in the neighbouring Pakistan and they also need peace talks.”
Attacks on Sufi Shrines is condemnable and ISIS have claimed the responsibility, he said adding, “They (ISIS) are not doing humane task and not following footsteps of Islam.”
Swami said that dialogue is the only option left to have regional as well as global peace.
“We want to invite everyone at one platform and hold dialogue, participate in peace talks starting from April in the Kashmir valley,” Swami said.
“Peace talks an opportunity for all. It will a continuous, uninterrupted process and we hope that crisis in Jammu and Kashmir will come to an end with dialogue,” the politician said adding, “I had meetings with Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and he responded positively. Had talks with Yaseen Malik and Umer Farooq also, they too want peace in the region.”
Agnivesh however, defending separatists said, “to whom we are calling separatists, they have appealed and called off strike on Feb 24 in view of Mahashivratri for Kashmiri Pandits.”
Their gesture showed that they are not separatists of that type, who are to be ignored or separated from the society, he said.
“Separatists are representatives and leaders of Kashmir. They cannot be left out from peace talks,” Agnivesh said adding, “all government, non governmental and any other body, want to join hands for peace, are welcomed.”
“Our focus is peace and we do not want that any stone pelting take place in the Valley. Restoring harmony, calm is an aim of talks to be held in Kashmir,” he said.
He said that talks will aware people to end decades old period of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, adding, “Terrorists are infiltrating to disrupt peace, internal threats are there but we will find solution through non-violence.”
Agnivesh said, “Violence only intensifies violence but through non-violence, many things can be resolved,” adding, “we are making a beginning in Jammu and Kashmir of sustainable peace with justice through dialogue.”
“For me nobody is a separatist and people from across the country, within the State comprising every class will attend the peace talks,” Agnivesh said.
He however, said that ‘Goli se nahi boli se’ (not with bullet but dialogue), will be an ideology of talks to end Kashmir violence.