Date:15/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/15/stories/2007041503991000.htm

National

Azad wants Hurriyat to join roundtable

Special Correspondent

No dialogue with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, says Azad

SRINAGAR: It will be in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir if the separatist Hurriyat Conference joins the third round-table conference to be held in New Delhi on April 24, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here on Saturday.

"The discussions at the meetings of working groups [on J & K] would be placed before the conference for further deliberations and it will be good if all parties take part." The roundtable was a good opportunity to find a solution to the problems confronting people.

Salahuddin will not be invited

To a question about involving Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Salahuddin in talks, as demanded by National Conference president Omar Abdullah, Mr. Azad said, "There is a clear policy not only here but also throughout the world that there cannot be a dialogue with those holding the gun."

Referring to the dialogue initiated by the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in 2000, he said, "You cannot have a dialogue with those whose faces are covered and you do not even know them. It was a blot."

Hurriyat decision soon

Meanwhile, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference has indicated that it will take a decision in a day or two about taking part in the roundtable.