Date:15/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/15/stories/2004011507201300.htm

National

Invitation dangerous: Geelani

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, JAN. 14. Even as a section is enthusiastic over the invitation extended by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, to the Moulana Abbas Ansari-led faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the Syed Ali Geelani faction has termed it "a dangerous political game."

Mr. Geelani said, "Instead of sending an invitation to Kashmiri groups, they (Government of India) should have held talks with Pakistan on the resolution of the Kashmir issue, and at a later stage included Kashmiris in the process."

The talks would provide an excuse to India that it need not talk to anyone, including Pakistan, as it was trying to find a way out with Kashmiris, Mr. Geelani said.

The senior separatist leader said United Nations resolutions should be the basis for any dialogue for the resolution of the dispute. "U.N. resolutions are the only road map," he said.

He questioned the representative character of the Ansari faction as Mr. Ansari and his followers had been expelled from the Hurriyat. The talks would be "futile and irrelevant." Also, the Hurriyat constitution demanded a solution to the Kashmir problem, according to the U.N. Charter or through tripartite talks. "It would be unconstitutional for any Hurriyat member to be part of the delegation to hold talks with New Delhi," Mr. Geelani said.

But the former Hurriyat chairman and member of the Ansari faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, is hopeful a consensus within the separatist camp could be built. He said the Hurriyat had decided to hold a general meeting where all separatist groups would be called to finalise the modalities. On the other hand, he said, "We would talk, come what may. ... In the context of the breaking of ice between India and Pakistan the unconditional invitation for talks holds more weight and should not be missed."

Azam Inquillabi, head of the Mahaaz-e-Azadi, has asked the separatist leaders to be cautious. He sees more politics than sincerity on the part of India in choosing the Ansari-led Hurriyat. "If India is serious we will cooperate. Since Mr. Geelani holds the larger public mandate, India cannot afford to bypass him."