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EU should play 'positive role' in Kashmir: Shah

Separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmed Shah on Thursday asked the European Union to play a positive role to avoid a possible nuclear war between India and Pakistan and initiate a meaningful dialogue among all the parties to the Kashmir issue.

"We told the visiting EU delegation that even if they are not prepared to play a role of a mediator, they should play a positive role to avoid a nuclear war in the sub-continent and initiate a meaningful dialogue between all the parties to the Kashmir issue," Shah said after a 60-minute meeting with the visiting European diplomats in Srinagar.

Accusing the Centre of being not 'serious and willing' to resolve Kashmir issue, Shah said a meaningful and a comprehensive dialogue was the only way to solve the problem.

Ruling out participation in the ensuing assembly election, Shah said, "We consider the election as an ad-hoc system and part of the same traditional process experimented in the state since 1947."

"However," he said, "if the election is held for the resolution of Kashmir issue we will not stay away."

"The policy makers of India should know that the proposed election will not change the status of the Kashmir issue," he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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