Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has, at last, set the ball rolling for the much-awaited political action to defuse the crisis in Kashmir.
According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Singh has invited all the political parties in the troubled state to New Delhi on the evening of August 10 for talks.
Kashmir has been under siege due to the vicious circle of massive protests, and the death of agitators in firing by security forces while trying to control the violent street protests.
According to government sources, 49 people have died in the ongoing violence in Kashmir in the last 55 days.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also seems to be putting his act together. He has been blamed largely for allowing the current situation to escalate to this level.
On Thursday, under tight security he visited the local hospital to meet the injured victims. Although his visit saw tension-filled moments, it has given hope that Abdullah will try to get a grip over the administrative and political situation in the state, which seems to be unravelling fast.
Also, separatist hard-line leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's appeal to the people to refrain from stone-pelting and acts of arson has helped keep the Valley relatively calm in the last 48 hours.
All the parties present in the current Jammu and Kashmir assembly have been invited for the talks, said PMO sources.
