The Hindu : Hurriyat ready for talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 23, 2003

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Hurriyat ready for talks

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu Aug. 22. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, today expressed his willingness to hold talks with the Central Government for finding a peaceful solution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue and said that the Hurriyat would not insist on its condition of a trilateral dialogue by including Pakistan.

In an interview to the The Hindu today, Mr. Ansari said ``the conglomerate has made a change in its policy by not stressing on the inclusion of Pakistan in the dialogue process.'' Pakistan as a party to the dispute could be involved in the dialogue process at a later stage.

``We are prepared to talk with a fresh approach and with an open mind. Let the Centre come out with a proposal and we are prepared to talk,'' he said.

``A dialogue can start between the conglomerate and the Central Government at one level and, later, we can hold a dialogue with Pakistan. On the third plane, India and Pakistan can talk on the issue.''

Appreciating the ``vision'' of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in realising the changing situation in the world, Mr. Ansari said, ``the Prime Minister clearly stated that both countries have to realise the changing world order and hinted at the American aggression on Iraq. I think it was a statement coming from a person with deep understanding and sensitivity. This approach certainly needs to be carried forward. We welcome this kind of spirit.''

The Hurriyat chairman also welcomed the statement of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, insisting on the inclusion of every section of society in the dialogue process.

On the talks with the Centre's interlocutor, N.N. Vohra, he said, ``I will not talk to him. I want the initiative coming from the Prime Minister. For instance, the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1974 took a personal initiative and only at a later stage officials were involved. The Vohra initiative does not take us anywhere.''

Asked about the reasons for the change in the Hurriyat's policy, he said ``we realised that the three parties to the dispute — India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir — cannot sit at the same table. We have to go in stages and be flexible.''

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