M A I N   N E W S

No talks with Habibullah
Only PM’s confidant acceptable: APHC

New Delhi, February 10
Rejecting outright the possibility of negotiations with Mr Wajahat Habibullah — the Centre’s "unofficial’’ emissary on Kashmir — the Hurriyat Conference today said it was ready to hold talks only with "anyone having direct access to the Prime Minister’’ for finding a "lasting and permanent solution’’ to the lingering Kashmir issue.

"It will not be prudent for us to talk to a bureaucrat less in rank and status than that of Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant,’’ senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone told UNI here.

"When we had earlier categorically refused to hold negotiations with Mr Pant, how can anyone expect us now to talk to a person who is much junior in bureaucratic hierarchy?’’ he asked.

On whether the separatist conglomerate will consider coming to the negotiation table if "a bigger name’’ is assigned to the job, he said: "if the Hurriyat has to talk, it should be somebody having proximity to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’’.

When asked if he had any specific name in his mind, Mr Lone said "It can be anyone...Someone like Mr Brajesh Mishra’’.

Terming the "Habibullah mission’’ as a non-starter, he said the "K.C. Pant mission’’ could not take off because Mr Pant was not able to play "any significant role’’ as the Centre’s mediator on Kashmir.

Also the Centre had "gone back on the informal understanding’’ that had been worked out, he charged. "The Centre has not shown seriousness and sincerity in settling the Kashmir issue through a meaningful dialogue.’’

Seeking to dispel reports that some Hurriyat leaders had met Mr Habibullah and discussed the separatist alliance’s participation in the polls, Mr Lone said there "has been no formal or informal dialogue or discussion with Mr Habibullah on the issue.’’

Mr Lone also described the meeting between Mr Habibullah and the Hurriyat Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, as "personal’’.

Mr Habibullah had served in the valley for many years and had "personal relations’’ with many people there, he said.

Mr Habibullah had reportedly met Prof Bhat six weeks ago in Srinagar to suggest that it would be worthwhile for the Hurriyat to participate in the elections and, in case it chose not to do so, the least the conglomerate should do was not to give a call for a poll-boycott.

Talking to UNI here, former Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq had also disclosed that Mr Habibullah had met Prof Bhat. He too has described the meeting as "a courtesy call.’’ UNI