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Hurriyat divided on talks with Kashmir Committee

M I Jehangir in Srinagar

Serious differences have cropped up within the Hurriyat Conference over its decision to continue talks with the Kashmir Committee led by former Union minister Ram Jethmalani, with moderates in the separatist amalgam in its favour and the hardliners against it.

Democratic Political Movement, formerly known as Islamic Students League and a constituent of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, criticised the amalgam's decision to continue its parleys with the committee saying the talks were violative of the constitution of the 25-party conglomerate.

DPM general secretary Mohammad Shafi Reshi said the rechristened party would continue to work with the Hurriyat as long as it acted in accordance with its constitution.

He said the Hurriyat constitution provided for trilateral talks involving India and Pakistan in some friendly country under the supervision of United Nations in case UN resolutions on Kashmir could not be implemented.

Reshi said talks with the Kashmir Committee were not in line with the constitution of the Hurriyat.

Matters may be compounded for the Hurriyat if DPM seriously pursues its ambition of making it to the powerful executive of the amalgam. At present the moderates have a greater say in the seven-member decision-making executive.

Muslim Khawateen Markaz (Muslim Women's Centre), another hardline constituent of the Hurriyat, supported Reshi's stand on talks with the non-governmental group comprising eminent editors, lawyers and formers ministers.

Welcoming Reshi's statement, MKM Chairperson Zamrud Habib said her outfit supported the stand taken by DPM on the issue.

She also supported DPM's claim for a place in the executive in view of the show of strength at its annual convention.

After his release last month, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammed Yasin Malik, a member of the Hurriyat executive committee, had expressed his reservations about the talks and accused Jethmalani of engaging in "double-speak" with regard to a solution to the Kashmir issue.

But Awami Action Committee chairman and senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said talks with the Kashmir Committee would continue.

"The decision to hold talks with Kashmir Committee was a consensus decision and all the constituents of the amalgam were taken into confidence before the process began," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, I think the talks will continue," he said. But referring to Reshi's statement and Habib's endorsement of it, Mirwaiz said Hurriyat may convene a meeting to discuss the latest development.

He said Hurriyat was holding talks with Kashmir Committee on a six-point agenda, which is beneficial to the "movement for self-determination".

Kashmir Committee and Hurriyat Conference issued a joint statement after their second round of talks in New Delhi agreeing that India, Pakistan and Kashmiri representatives should start a dialogue process for durable peace in the troubled state.

The declaration also called for creation of conducive atmosphere for talks and release of all political prisoners.

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