November 06, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 7, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Kashmiri leaders on Wednesday expressed the hope that President-elect Barack Obama would live up to his pre-election statements that he would seek an active American role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

“The encouraging statements of Obama during his campaigning have generated a hope that he will use his good offices to resolve the Kashmir issue,” said chief of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.

He also condemned “a ban” on APHC statements and advertisements in the Indian media. “It is unfortunate that the point of view of the representatives of 12 million Kashmiris is being blocked in the media,” he remarked.

Veteran leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani also urged Mr Obama to use his office for an amicable resolution of the 61-year-old dispute so that “12 million Kashmiri people could live in peace in their own land”.

In a telephonic interview with a private television channel, the senior Kashmiri leader said the new American leadership was expected to adopt a realistic approach towards the dispute.

Mr Gilani said the people of occupied Kashmir had been subjected to the worst kind of state terrorism but the world leaders had yet to take notice of Indian atrocities.—Agencies