Search the Internet          Tips

Shabir Shah offers to talk to Pant

Prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, chief of the Democratic Freedom Party, Monday announced that a three-member delegation of his party would visit New Delhi to "seek certain clarifications from central interlocutor K C Pant, regarding dialogue on Kashmir".

After his party working committee meeting, Shah told a press conference, "In principle, I am not opposed to dialogue and deliberations, but the objective of such a process must be made clear before my party joins such parleys."

Shah announced that Maulana Tahri, Hakim Abdul Rashid and Saleem Geelani would visit New Delhi for an "initial round of talks with Pant".

"The delegation will carry a letter to seek clarification on whether the Kashmir issue is to be discussed and whether Pakistan will be included in the talks."

The DFP chief said the "Kashmir issue can only be resolved through trilateral dialogue involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiri's, who are the basic party to the dispute."

''If they tell us that Pakistan will be involved later in talks, we have no objection. We will hold the initial round of negotiations with Pant."

While Shah was nominating a three-member team to hold preliminary deliberation with Pant, his deputy Hakim Abdul Rashid rose during the press briefing and announced that he would not associate himself with the team nominated by Shabir Ahmad Shah as "he had not been consulted".

"I will not go to Delhi," Hakim told the newsmen.

The separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference last week rejected the offer of talks and announced that the "Kashmir issue can only be resolved through tripartite talks."

Shah, in a statement distributed among newsmen, said, "Pant's letter is full of ambiguities. He has invited even parties who don't challenge accession."

"The objective seems to create confusion besides deliberately undermining the importance of the pro-freedom parties in the state."

"We cannot sit during talks with surrendered militants who are involved in human rights violations in Kashmir."

"The party believes in the resolution of the Kashmir conflict through a genuine political dialogue in which India, Pakistan and the true representatives of the people of the state are involved. Therefore, the party, in this regard has made the government aware of its stand through a letter addressed to the chief negotiator. It remains to be seen how the government responds to our point of view," the statement said.

"Our case is strong and that is why my party has decided to discuss it at any forum," Shah said.

The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report