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| Friday, 23 January 2004 |
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Indian Govt, Kashmir separatists set for historic talks NEW DELHI, Thursday (AFP) The Indian government and a moderate faction of Kashmir's main separatist alliance were set to meet in New Delhi for historic talks on restoring peace in violence-wracked Kashmir. The first-ever high-level discussions will be between a government team, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and a five-member delegation from the region's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Indian newspapers quoted government sources as saying New Delhi was ready to concede some key demands of the separatists so that they don't return home empty-handed after having gone out on a limb in agreeing to hold talks. The concessions could include a unilateral ceasefire against Muslim rebels, who have since 1989 being waging armed rebellion against Indian rule in Kashmir at a cost of at least 40,000 lives; the release of political prisoners and the granting of permission for Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan. One of the five Hurriyat leaders attending the talks, Umar Farooq, told AFP earlier this week a ceasefire would top the agenda of the talks, which are opposed by hardline separatists and by militants who have warned the five they will come to a "bad end" if they "bend to Delhi". "(A ceasefire) is definitely on our agenda," said Farooq. "We want an end to violence as it will help push forward the peace process." The separatists are led by cleric and senior separatist Maulana Abbas Ansari, who was elected as Hurriyat chief in July. Besdies Farooq, others in the team are former Hurriyat chief Abdul Gani Bhat, low-profile leader Fazal Haque Qureshi, who is respected by separatists and rebels for his integrity, and Bilal Lone, the elder son of assassinated moderate separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone. Their involvement in talks comes at a time of damaging division between hardline and moderate separatists. In September the hardliners expressed no confidence in Ansari and declared the staunchly pro-Pakistan Syed Ali Geelani as their head. Geelani's faction claim they are the real Hurriyat and oppose two-way talks between Indians and Kashmiris, saying Pakistan needs to be included in the process. But while the Ansari-led faction does not enjoy the support of all the separatists opposed to Indian-rule in Kashmir, many Kashmiris who want to see an end to violence have welcomed the talks, saying the two sides have for the first time in 15 years broken ice and moved forward. The five cannot claim to represent the entire Kashmiri community but do reflect the views of a significant number of the separatists opposed to Indian-rule in the region. They represent four of the seven powerful parties forming the decision-making Executive Council of Hurriyat. Three other parties have neither opposed nor supported them. Analysts have expressed doubt over the success of the talks because of the deep rift. "In the absence of hardliners ... moderates can't win peace for the region," warned analyst Showket Ahmed. |
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