We don't need APHC as mediator: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH. 7. The Centre today refused to accord the All- Party Hurriyat Conference the status of mediator between New Delhi and Islamabad, while stating that the Hurriyat leaders with passports were free to travel to Pakistan.

Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, emphasised that as far as talks with Pakistan were concerned, if the Government wished to talk, it would do so directly.

The Government viewed the Hurriyat as part of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and if discussions in respect of the State were to be held, talks would be held with the Hurriyat too.

Mr. Advani said the Centre proposed to hold talks with various groups in the State and wanted Pakistan to exert pressure on militant groups to stop cross-border terrorism.

The response of the people of the State to the Ramzan peace initiative was good as was that of international community. However, the response of various militant groups, which operated at the initiative of Pakistan and indulged in cross-border terrorism, was not satisfactory.

While welcoming the stoppage of shelling on the border by Pakistan, he said it was hoped the climate created in the State through the response of the people and the world would pressure Pakistan.

Mr. Advani said the Government had not urged the security forces to abandon the fight against militancy, and that during the three-and-a-half month period since Ramzan, 227 militants had been killed by security forces.

Referring to the suicide attacks by militants, the Minister said that while these incidents had created the impression that the battle against militancy had been somewhat abandoned, the fact was that security forces had been asked not to wait until attacked.

Defending the extension of the ceasefire till the end of May, Mr. Advani said all aspects of the situation had been reviewed and Army commanders' views considered. Responding to members' concern over reports of reservation, he said the Centre would take cognisance of it.

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