Hurriyat to fight 'economic exploitation' of Kashmiris

Srinagar, July 10 (IANS) The Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-headed faction of the separatist Hurriyat conglomerate Tuesday announced the formation of an economic advisory council to address day-to-day issues of Kashmir's people and fight their "economic exploitation".

"There is massive exploitation of our resources both by the central government and the state administration in every sphere, be it water resources, trade, economy or other fields of daily activity," the Mirwaiz said at a press conference here.

"The Hurriyat conference cannot remain away from the day to day problems of our people. We have therefore decided to form an economic advisory council which will be drawn from the various segments of our civil society to fight the economic exploitation of our people."

Mirwaiz Umer said the trade across the line of control (LOC), started as a confidence-building measure (CBM), has become trade between India and Pakistan.

"The cross LOC trade has become trade between Indian and Pakistan traders as there is no Kashmir element involved in this trade," he said.

"We do not oppose CBMs between the two countries, but they must be Kashmir specific to address the problems of the people of Kashmir," he said.

The Mirwaiz warned that dialogue between India and Pakistan would reach nowhere unless it involved the people of Jammu and Kashmir.