Advani, Hurriyat to hold round II of talks today

First, it wants some prisoners released and others, held in jails outside the Valley, to be moved to state prisons. Second, it seeks an end to ‘‘human rights excesses’’.

The demands are not new and will not be easily achieved. But it is the request that the Hurriyat will make that underlines the uniqueness of these talks. While they may be held under the media spotlight — given that peace in the Valley is at stake — the participants insist that they want the details of the discussions kept absolutely confidential.

It is an interesting request, given that both sides would like to put their own spin on the negotiations. Nevertheless, Hurriyat insiders said they would ask the Home Ministry how a list of political prisoners, whose release they were seeking, found its way to the media.

‘‘The talks should be transparent to the extent that we are seen to be holding talks with New Delhi, but at the same time we don’t want people to draw wrong interpretations of what is discussed,’’ said one Hurriyat source.

Hurriyat leaders privately acknowledge that they themselves have not been entirely blameless in this propaganda battle. They accept that they ‘‘goofed up’’ when they publicly vented their outrage over the alleged killings of civilians by the Army in Bandipora and Tral.

To set the process back on track, the faction led by Maulvi Abbas Ansari will now seek the release of some prisoners to gain leverage and credibility on the ground. He is under pressure from pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who had called the talks a sham.

In return, it appears the Hurriyat could be persuaded to make a strange offering: its silence. While its calls to boycott Lok Sabha elections have been almost second-nature in the past, it may just keep its lips sealed this time around if it sees some things going its way.

Advani was briefed today by the Centre’s Kashmir Coordination Group. ‘‘We have no problem in releasing more prisoners. We have already released 69. The sincerity of the government can’t be doubted on this,’’ said an official.