Moderate faction of Hurriyat says talks offer a 'good sign'

The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference today termed as a "good step" the Centre's offer to hold talks with every section of political opinion to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, saying it has been stressing that dialogue was the way forward.

"Kashmir is a political issue and dialogue is the way to resolve it," the chairman of the separatist amalgam Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told reporters after emerging from a meeting of its executive council here.
   
He said he has not gone through what the Union home minister has actually said, but "we welcome the decision of the government of India to hold talks with every section of political opinion in the state to find a political solution to the Kashmir problem.

"It is a good sign and good step," the Mirwaiz said claiming that "they (government) have accepted Kashmir as an issue and not an integral part of India."

Asked about Chidambaram's remark that the government would hold "quiet dialogue" away from the media glare, the Mirwaiz said this will make no difference. "Modalities are to be worked out for such a dialogue," he added.

However, he said the Hurriyat has not received any offer from the Centre for dialogue so far. "When it comes we will sit and decide on the response," he added.

To a question whether the offer of dialogue was the result of "pressure" built by Organisation of Islamic Conference which has nominated a permanent representative for Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz said the OIC will play a "friendship role" motivating India and Pakistan to resume dialogue and resolve the Kashmir issue.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference headed by Begum Khalida Shah also welcomed the offer of dialogue by the Centre.

"ANC will welcome every such step aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue," provincial president of the party Mohammad Farooq Badoo said.

He said there can be no "military solution" to the Kashmir issue and dialogue is the only way to resolve it. But the talks should be "meaningful and result-oriented", he added.