Fernandes confident on talks revival with Hizb

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today expressed confidence about revival of talks between the Centre and the militant outfit Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen (HM) in the next two months and said the issue of Pakistan's involvement in the talks would be forgotten by then.

``The Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen's proposal (for a ceasefire) came out of nowhere and then it faded away. I believe that there will be a revival of this proposal, he said on a Talk Show on BBC.

Asked whether HM would continue to insist on tripartite talks involving Pakistan, Mr. Fernandes said he was not too sure ``whether this proposal would be put across in all seriousness.''

``Yes,'' he replied when asked if the issue of involvement of Pakistan in negotiations would be forgotten or watered down in the next two months. He said the government had ``well established'' contacts with the HM in Kashmir.

On the Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mr. Abdul Ghani Bhat's proposal to constitute two groups of its executive committee to hold talks with India and Pakistan simultaneously, Mr. Fernandes said the Hurriyat did not represent any mainstream political or insurgency-oriented movement in Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked about the split role suggested by the Hurriyat and the possibility of proximity talks, the Minister said there was nothing new in it as the Hurriyat had been continuously talking to Pakistan.

Mr. Fernandes said the Hurriyat leaders were in the capital earlier this week and had met officials of the Pakistan High Commission.

Asked if there was a split between the Pakistan-based and India- based HM commanders, he said there were reasons to believe that ``strong differences'' existed. Those on the Indian side were ``keen'' that the talks should resume, he said adding he had credible reasons to believe that. On whether the HM `chief commander' in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Abdul Majid Dar, who announced a ceasefire in the State on July 24, which was called off by the Pakistan-based HM chief, Mr. Syed Salahuddin, on August 8, was being protected, he said Mr. Dar was ``very safe'' and it was ``our duty to protect anyone who needs protection.''

- PTI

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