M A I N   N E W S

US officials on way to J&K
To convince APHC on talks
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 6
Officials of the USA are said to be on their way to Kashmir to motivate APHC leaders to accept at least the first round of talks with the Government of India for which a formal invitation was made yesterday after Mr K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, was appointed negotiator between the separatists and the government.

Official sources said even after the change of guard in the White House, American interest in Kashmir had not abated. The sources said as part of the American plan to break the deadlock between the separatists and the Government of India, American officials have been instructed to motivate the separatists to accept New Delhi’s offer for talks.

The sources said following the tough stand taken by the APHC that it would not accept the offer for talks unless the five-member Hurriyat team was allowed to visit Pakistan, the American officials would try to convince the separatists that the proposed visit to Pakistan would materialise if at least the first round of talks was held in Delhi.

The APHC Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, today described the latest decision of the government to appoint Mr K.C. Pant as mediator nothing but a “road block.” He explained that for the past 50 years India had held talks with Pakistan without any result.

“We have suggested to the government to allow us to cross over to Pakistan so that we can get a clear picture whether leaders of militant outfits actually want to end the Kashmir imbroglio, he said, adding that after “our return, we could discuss the matter in detail with the Government of India.”

Describing the decision of the Central Government as a mere “eyewash”, Prof Bhat said he did not want India to waste the opportunity to resolve the Kashmir issue by refusing permission to “our team to visit Pakistan.”

Already militant groups and the United Jehad Council camping in occupied Kashmir and headed by Syed Salahuddin have rejected the Prime Minister’s peace process and the offer for talks, despite the fact that New Delhi has shown its willingness to hold talks with any militant groups, including the Hizbul Mujahideen.

According to Hurriyat Conference sources, the executive committee of the APHC will meet shortly. Efforts are afoot to persuade the committee members to accept the offer for talks. New Delhi, according to the sources, has decided to allow the Hurriyat Conference team to visit Pakistan only after the first found of talks between the separatists the government either in Delhi or Srinagar.

The sources were categorical in saying that within a fortnight of the first round of talks, the Hurriyat team would be given valid travel documents to visit Pakistan to meet leaders of militant groups and those assisting the anti-India movement in Jammu and Kashmir.

The sources said New Delhi had played its cards well by throwing the ball in the court of the APHC. In case the APHC accepted the offer for talks, the matter is unlikely to be resolved speedily. Even if the two sides reach an agreement, peace will be a distant dream so long as rebel groups have men and guns to fight the government.

Experts are of the view that the key to peace in Kashmir is in reducing infiltration so that militants find it difficult to sustain their armed campaign.

However, they opine that if the American pressure mounts on the separatists, they may accept the offer for talks which can result in the isolation of militants, especially foreign mercenaries.