- Major set-back for faction-ridden Hurriyat ConferenceÂ
SRINAGAR: The diplomatic discourse at United Nations General Assembly marked a historic frame shift in Pakistan's Kashmir policy which has also come as a huge setback for the local separatist leadership and an evident distancing of Pakistan from the faction-ridden Hurriyat conference.  Pakistan has traditionally stood for a tripartite dialogue to address Kashmir issue. From Pakistan's point of view the third party to dialogue, besides India and Pakistan, is meant to be the separatist leadership.
In his UN speech when Nawaz Sharif invited India for dialogue to address outstanding issues including Kashmir, he skipped reference to separatist leadership, let aside any specific reference to Hurriyat. Nawaz Sharif also made a reference to Burhan Wani, representative of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen whose chief sits in Pakistan. By inviting India for dialogue, mentioning Hizbul commander and not mentioning Hurriyat and host of smaller groups working on separatist ideology, he appears to have delegitimized the separatist leadership. This could be Pakistan's policy shift on Kashmir where they want the militants to be new representatives.
In its response, India took a strong exception to Pakistan's continued and open support to terrorism and allowing its soil to be used for cross-border terrorism. {Elaborate on this, as per statement}Â Political experts observe UNGA latest development on this front as a historic shift in Pakistan's policy for active involvement of Hurriyat and its recognition as representative of Kashmiri people.
In 2009 Pakistan had made all out efforts to unite the faction ridden Hurriyat Conference when Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza held a meeting with Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Farooq and others urging them to unite under one organisations for their separatist goals, however the attempt failed as Geelani stuck to his 1993 Hurriyat Constitution as the pre-condition for any unifications. Pakistan had always been making covert attempts to unite the factions and internationally claimed Hurriat as the third party to any dialogue for resolution of Kashmir issue, apart from India and Pakistan.
Strategic analysts cited the Cross Border travel of separatist leaders to Pakistan in 2005 when seven separatist leaders travelled to Pakistan and held talks with President as well as series of discussions however the factionalist came to fore with Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani coming up in open criticism of dominant faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The factionalist within Separatist camp and its diminishing clout in Kashmir is seen a major reason for Pakistan openly dropping Hurriyat the important platform of United Nations while vehemently supporting the terror organisations operating from its land. The Separatist leadership has been forced to introspect for a course correction. INAK approached senior Hurriyat leaders for comments however there was no response.
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