Hopeful for a peaceful solution during Kashmir international conference: Kashmir again on a knife-edge

A two-day conference commences today, May 23, 2011 in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir, to facilitate dialogue on the Kashmir debate.

KashmirWatch (kashmirwatch.com) says that participants from Pakistan, India, America, United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, Ireland, and from both sides of the Line of Control that separates Kashmir.

AJK University will host the event inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yusef Raza Gilani, who is also chair of the Kashmir Council, an elected upper house of the AJK Parliament.

India and Pakistan continue dialogue at the government level, but this conference will support global dialogue on Kashmir, inclusive of Kashmiris themselves. This is seen as a positive step forward to open up all views on the issue, not only from its neighbouring countries (including China), but also from all people interested in a peaceful solution to this long disputed conflict since Partition from the British in 1947 between India-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

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