JK: All-party delegation to meet separatist leaders

The Centre will extend invitation to groups and individuals, including separatists in Jammu and Kashmir for a meeting with the 39-member all-party delegation visiting the state from Monday.

Though there is an open invitation for anyone to come forward and talk to the delegation, a written invitation will be sent out to a select few including the separatist leaders, sources said.

The delegation, which is expected to be headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with  Union Home Minister P Chidambaram as one of its  members, will be visiting Srinagar and Jammu as well.

The decision to send the delegation was taken at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been witnessing violence for the past three months.

Sources said the delegation will come back on Wednesday after meeting leaders of political parties and various other sections of the society. The delegation will gather various shades of opinion on the current situation in the state and ways to deal with it.

Once the delegation comes back and gives its feedback, a Cabinet Committee on Security will be held during which a political package for the state will be deliberated upon, the sources said.