Centre happy about Hurriyat talks

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 12. The Centre has noted with satisfaction the thrust of the deliberations at the executive of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference this afternoon in Srinagar. In particular, officials here have noted that the executive seems to have rejected Syed Ali Shah Geelani's formulation that the Kashmir issue is a religious conflict and that the APHC has, instead, termed it a ``political problem''.

Also, special note is taken of the executive spelling out the objective of its proposed visit to Pakistan, and, in this context, the Hurriyat is seen as coming down on the side of the ``peace process''. The Hurriyat leadership has, for example, suggested that its visit could create ``a conducive atmosphere'' which would have ``helped in making the unilateral ceasefire a bilateral ceasefire aimed at achieving positive result''.

The officials have discerned a rebuff for Syed Geelani and his arguments in the Hurriyat formulation that ``some people in India and Pakistan were intentionally or unintentionally trying to interfere and influence the decision of the Hurriyat Conference. The APHC would like to make it clear that it would not accept anyone's interference or dictates while taking decisions.

The APHC felt that these hurdles, whether intentional or unintentional, to resolving the issue were the outcome of negative thinking and did not reflect the view of the common man.''

In fact, the proponents of the ``peace process'' within the Vajpayee Government have been invoking the sense of relief felt by the ``common man'' in the Kashmir Valley following the ceasefire by the security forces. And, now the Hurriyat executive has invoked the ``common man''.

The officials have also noted the huge turnout at a rally at Hajan in Baramulla district last Saturday. The rally, one of the biggest political gatherings in recent years, was addressed by the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and Mr. Kukka Parray, of the Awami League.

According to one estimate, as many as 30,000 people attended the meeting where anti-Pakistan slogans were raised.

Despite the fact that the State Government machinery appears to have been used to bring people to the rally, the officials believe that the meeting was reflective of the changed mood in the Valley.

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