WASHINGTON: - A declaration adopted at the end of a two-day conference on Kashmir on Friday affirmed that a just solution of the the Indo-Pakistan dispute over the Himalayan state could be achieved only through democratically established procedures for ascertaining the will of the people. The conference, organized by Kashmiri American Council and Association of Humanitarian Lawyers, was attended by lawmakers, writers, American and European experts and Kashmiri leaders from both sides of the state, called for giving the current peace process between India and Pakistan a realistic timeframe and demanded an independent probe into human rights abuses in the Indian occupied Kashmir. It resolved that "the pace of India-Pakistan dialogue, particularly in relation to Jammu and Kashmir should be accelerated and given a realistic time frame. The dialogue should be inclusive and Kashmiris should be an integral part of this process." It resolved that, in the context of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's pledge for "zero tolerance" of human rights abuses, "an independent and credible investigative commission should be set up to probe human rights abuses including the issue of mass graves recently discovered in the (occupied) state." The declaration appealed that all political prisoners languishing in jails, interrogation centers and detained under emergency laws should be immediately released. "All draconian laws should be withdrawn and peoples' fundamental freedoms and basic rights should be restored." The Conference also called for adopting more Kashmir specific confidence buildings measures as these would "help in conquering fear and creating a congenial environment for a positive forward movement." The declaration said all those elements who have tried to vitiate and communalize the state polity, need to be identified and punished. While welcoming the withdrawal of the order to transfer land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the conference condemned all efforts to communalize the situation. It resolved that all internally and externally displaced people of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kashmiri Pandits, should be facilitated to return to their homes in safety and dignity. Speakers participating in the conference voiced concern over India-Pakistan relations and lack of concrete steps towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Three important Congressmen- Joseph Pits, Jim Moran and Vette Clarke " were among the distinguished apeakers. Describing the conference as first step in the long journey towards peace in his opening statement, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director of Kashmiri American Council, said, "The silver linings have started appearing after India and Pakistan engaged themselves in peace process. Demanding inclusion of legitimate leadership in the ongoing peace process, he said, aims and aspiration of this conference are not to speak against one government or the other but main purpose is to facilitate a sincere dialogue in the form of peace process that will liberate Kashmiris from their terrifying predicament." Ambassador Muhammad Yusuf Buch, a former Senior Advisor to Secretary General United Nations, said that the deadlock on Kashmir between India and Pakistan would be greatly facilitated by the presence of a mediator who would define obligations of the parties under agreements concluded between them, spell out contentious position and conflicting positions and remove confusion about what needs to be done to narrow the gap. Amongst those who made their presentations included Bharat Bushan, a New Delhi based senior journalist, Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister of Education Islamabad, Farzana Raja, Member Pakistan Assembly, Maj Gen Jamsheed Ayaz Khan, (Retired), Victoria Schofield, Prof. Rodney Jones, Prof. Richard Sharipo, Prof. Angana Chaterji, Prof Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Executive Director, Kashmir Centre London, Prof. Taqdees Jeelani, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir University, Dr. Waleed Rasool, Dr. Hamida Bano, Kashmir University, Jatinder Bakshi, Ved Bhasin, Senator Aneesa Zeb, from Pakistan and Dr. Farhan Chak from Durham University, England. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was expected to make his presentation in the inaugural session had to return to Srinagar from Dubai for the prevailing situation in Kashmir.