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Hurriyat agrees for talks with Kashmir Committee

"We will participate in any positive dialogue process aimed at resolution of Kashmir issue," Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said after a meeting of the executive committee of the separatist amalgam in Srinagar. "We are ready to participate in any process of talks, but these should be aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue."

He said the composition of the delegation and the dates for the talks would be decided in a couple of days.

Bhat said, "If the elections are for the governance, we have nothing to do with it. However, if it is for deciding the future [of the state], Hurriyat is ready to participate in the process with all seriousness."

Before the meeting, Bhat said, "The elections should be held to ask people whether they want to remain with India or Pakistan or remain independent."

Emerging from the meeting, he said, "We want to march forward through dialogue process. We are in favour of betterment of India, Pakistan and ourselves [the people of the state] and key to the betterment lies in the talks process."

Former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was also present, said the amalgam would launch a 'Meet-the-people Programme' from Friday to educate people about the Kashmir Committee's initiative and take them into confidence on talks with it.

The Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat wanted to settle the Kashmir issue through peaceful means. "If any positive step is taken in this regard, we will support it."

Asked whether Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was "honest" in resolving the Kashmir issue through talks, Bhat replied "I don't know who is honest and who is not. I probably need not discuss anything with regard to politics of honesty or dishonesty."

"What we need to understand is the dynamics of present situation. There are grave dangers when two nuclear powers [India and Pakistan] are involved in a dispute. You can very well imagine the dimensions of such a situation. We will, therefore, have to address the dispute with courage and conviction," he said.

The Mirwaiz said, "Indian leadership has to decide which road they want to take -- whether they want a permanent solution or they want a temporary solution to the Kashmir issue. We are determined for a permanent solution and in that context we see the present situation not conducive for elections."

"Election is just for governance. We don't see our role. But yes, if the election is linked to the resolution of Kashmir issue, we are ready to talk about it with everyone including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said.

Asked when the Hurriyat would launch its anti-poll campaign, Bhat said three executive members of the amalgam -- Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Yaseen Malik and Sheikh Abdul Aziz -- and 40 others were languishing in prisons.

"Restrictions have been placed on our movement. We think we will not be allowed to carry out anti-election campaign. Last month, we organised a protest march and the police came down heavily on us and beat us and imprisoned 100 activists, though just for a day. These things have to be taken into consideration," Bhat said.

"We will be meeting people from Friday, taking them into confidence with regard to issues facing us. Election, of course, is one such issue," he added.

He ducked a question about the initiative taken by Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah to bring all separatist groups under one platform.

The Mirwaiz said, "I have a different point of view on this. Hurriyat is dedicated for strengthening the movement. We believe that all people who talk about resolution of issue through peaceful means are welcome. We want to maintain that we welcome all those people who stand for people of Jammu and Kashmir."

"As far as Hurriyat is concerned, we speak for the people. We don't speak for Pakistan or India. Unfortunately, a concept has been created that Hurriyat is acting at the behest of Pakistan," the Mirwaiz said.

"Today, we want to clarify that we are fighting for the Kashmir cause and interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir are supreme to Hurriyat. Whatever decisions we take, these are taken keeping in view the interests of the people and the movement," he said.

Meanwhile, Shabir Shah said he was ready to hold "unconditional" talks with Vajpayee.

"There will be no conditions from our side for the meeting and we will like to have no preconditions from the government side as well," Shah, who is leaving for Delhi on Wednesday for the second round of talks with the Kashmir Committee, said.

"We are going to Delhi with an open mind as we want an honourable solution to the Kashmir issue. We have always responded positively to the initiatives of the government and never backed out," he said.

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