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Kashmir separatists discuss peace talks plan
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Kashmir separatists discuss peace talks plan
Kashmir’s main separatist politicians met yesterday to decide if they should revive a dialogue with New Delhi, a day after the Indian prime minister offered unconditional talks.
During a two-day Kashmir visit that began on Wednesday, Singh said he was prepared to meet “everyone who wants to talk to me calmly” to help end a 15-year insurgency, which has killed nearly 45,000 people in the Himalayan region. However, he stopped short of making a firm commitment to allow separatist leaders to visit Pakistan before resuming talks stalled since he took office in May, a key demand of the leaders to carry the negotiations forward.
He also ruled out any redrawing of India’s borders, pouring cold water on proposals floated by Pakistan. “We will meet to decide if we want to continue to talk,” said Maulana Abbas Ansari, a leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of two dozen political groups.
Hurriyat held two rounds of talks earlier this year, but the dialogue apparently broke down after Singh’s Congress party came to power and set conditions unacceptable to the alliance. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Indians, Pakistanis and Kashmiris must show flexibility to move a cautious peace process forward.
“Flexibility and sincerity cannot be one-sided, but has to be displayed bilaterally and mutually, if we are to move forward,” Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was quoted as telling Kashmiri leaders on Wednesday.
Musharraf rejected any solution of the Kashmir dispute based on converting the existing ceasefire line that divides the territory between India and Pakistan into a permanent border, a solution that Indian officials privately say would be acceptable.
Kashmiri politicians and analysts said Singh had failed to break any new political ground, although they said his decision to scale back Indian forces in the disputed region was an encouraging signal. “I am disappointed as no fresh political measures were announced,” said Shabir Ahmad Shah, a separatist politician who heads Kashmir’s Democratic Freedom Party.
Omar Abdullah, head of the opposition National Conference party, said Singh should have specifically invited the Hurriyat for peace talks and announced steps to release someprisoners.“Expectations had been raised to a fever pitch ... disappointment had to follow,” Abdullah said.
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