Date:11/08/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/08/11/stories/2002081104600100.htm

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Hurriyat meet tomorrow to discuss talks offer

By Shujaat Bukhari

The All-Party Hurriyat Conference leaders, (from right) Abdul Gani Bhat, Javed Ahmed Mir, G.M. Bhat, and Bilal Gani Lone, discussing in Srinagar the invitation for talks. — Photo: Nissar Ahmed

SRINAGAR AUG. 10. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today failed to arrive at a decision on whether to respond to the "indirect" talks offer by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, or not and said it would discuss the issue in its general council on Monday.

The executive meeting approved the extension of the term of its chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, by another year.

At a crowded press conference, Prof. Bhat said that the meeting discussed the formation of the Kashmir Committee, headed by the former Union Law Minister, Ram Jethmalani. "It is a sensitive issue, so we discussed every aspect. There was unanimity in convening the meeting of the general council on Monday so that a final decision could be taken on the issue."

Prof. Bhat reiterated that the Hurriyat was ready for talks on finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem.

To a question, he said, "If India accepts in principle to talk to all parties involved in the Kashmir dispute, including Pakistan, we have no problem in talking to India first. We will be talking to the Kashmir Committee as we know it is non-governmental and if we come to know it enjoys the support of the Government, we will be talking to them if they chose to, but that will be discussing Kashmir and beyond that nothing. We have not withdrawn from our stand and we believe that we have to talk to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir to find a solution."

Prof. Bhat said that his term as APHC chairman had also been extended. "In the changing political situation, the election was deferred without amending the constitution. There was complete unanimity among the six members of the executive and therefore, I will be chairman till July 2003."

(The APHC constitution does not allow a second term for the chairman. He is elected for two years).

He said there was no change in the Hurriyat stand on the boycott of the Assembly elections, but added that it had not been decided whether to launch a campaign against it. "You will have to wait; we will come out with a statement. But not participating is as good as boycotting the elections."

Prof. Bhat said that the Hurriyat executive had also expressed concern over the deteriorating health of its senior leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik, and others in various jails in and outside the State.