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Hurriyat in talks with Pak officials in Delhi

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Hurriyat chief Abdul Ghani Bhat and his party colleague Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained closeted with senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday trying to evolve a framework under which talks could resume with the Government of India on the Kashmir imbroglio.

Senior home ministry officials said two Hurriyat leaders and two or more of their colleagues met Pakistan High Commission officials to discuss resumption of peace talks. The talks broke off when Hizbul Mujahedeen withdrew its cease-fire on August 8 following the Vajpayee government's refusal to make Pakistan a party in the negotiations.

While senior officials said the government would not draw any hasty conclusions on the Hurriyat leaders' meeting with the Pakistan High Commission officials, the prime minister's office and the home ministry is watching the developments closely.

"Hurriyat leaders have met Pakistan High Commission officials in the past too...we do not find today's meeting novel in any way," reasoned an official.

However, it's becoming clear now that Delhi has shifted its attention to 'backyard diplomacy' rather than waste time trying to engage Hizb/Hurriyat in straight talks.

The government has already indicated that it would work to prepare the ground for talks with interested parties. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah too has gone on record saying that "informal talks" with Hizb and Hurriyat would continue.

The main hurdle, as of now, seems to be the Indian government's insistence that the talks be held within the framework of the country's Constitution. "Which government can afford to hold talks outside the framework of Constitution?" Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra had said recently.

The Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu had voiced similar sentiments, though he acknowledged that discreet moves were afoot to untangle the Kashmir problem.

It is in this context that the presence of Hurriyat leaders in Delhi assumes significance. Bhat had earlier said that the seven-member executive of the Hurriyat would be divided into two groups - with one group holding talks with Delhi, and the other with Islamabad.

"The government feels that there is a perceptible change in the mood of the Kashmiri people ( regarding the ground situation in the state) which gives us hope that there potential for a peaceful solution to the problem," a senior ministry of external affairs official said.

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