Date:17/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041703511300.htm

National

Shah to hold meet on Kashmir

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the Awami National Conference, G. M. Shah, on Sunday said he planned to hold a "non-partisan" intra-Kashmir conference in June.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf would be invited for the meet. Mr. Shah said he was happy that both India and Pakistan had embarked on an "irreversible" peace process. The idea of holding such a conference was first floated by him in the year 2000 but bureaucratic wrangles came in the way.

Mr. Shah appealed to militants to give peace a chance. However, they should not lay down the arms. "We support the mujahideen for their valour and bravery through which they succeeded in highlighting the Kashmir issue at the international level. But I would now request them to preserve their guns and send their representatives for dialogue." He expressed his willingness to participate in the second round table on Kashmir, scheduled for May and convened by Prime Minister.