New Delhi, January 21
The Hurriyat Conference will hold crucial talks with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani tomorrow to discuss ways of finding a lasting solution to the vexed Kashmir issue.

Ahead of the talks with the Centre, the Hurriyat Conference leaders interacted with members of the Kashmir Committee on the “contours of the proposed dialogue.”

Sources said several critical issues, including the release of detenues, return of migrants and confidence building measures were discussed at the meeting with the Kashmir Committee.

The committee, headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, has held several rounds of discussion with the APHC.

Hurriyat Conference leaders, including its chief Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone and Fazal Haq Qureshi are in the Capital for talks with the Centre.

The Hurriyat leaders were closeted for several hours today at the residence of Mr Bilal Lone for discussions regarding tomorrow’s talks.

Terming tomorrow’s meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani as a “breakthrough,” Hurriyat leaders said they would discuss steps for finding a solution to the Kashmir problem.

The Hurriyat leaders expressed confidence that the Centre would be “serious and sincere” in its approach in carrying forward the dialogue process.

They said the talks would pave the way for a composite dialogue process aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.

Former Hurriyat chief Abdul Ghani Bhat said there were no pre-conditions for talks. He also played down the earlier demand for going to Pakistan, saying that it would not be difficult in view of the improved relations between the two countries.

Mirwaiz Omer Farooq advocated a step-by-step approach in finding solution to the Kashmir issue.

On the failure to bring about separatists on a common platform for talks with the Centre, he said sincere efforts had been made and these would continue in the future.

While both sides are tight-lipped about the agenda for the talks, the separatist alliance is hoping that the Centre will take some confidence-building measures to create a conducive atmosphere for a long-term dialogue.

The Hurriyat had not taken part in talks with the Centre’s interlocutors — Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant and former Home Secretary N.N. Vohra.