Another ceasefire in 2 months — Hizbul

He added: “To put an end to the recent deadlock, people were working at the international level and the negotiations between Hizbul and the Indian authorities will start again.”

Dar’s ceasefire call was revoked by Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin who put a condition that Pakistan should be involved in the talks. Dar echoed that line today saying: “Tripartite talks are the only solution to the dispute. The failure of bilateral accords like Tashknt agreement, Shimla pact and Abdullah-Indira accord prove that bilateral dialogue will never help resolve the problem.” He said that a lasting solution of the dispute was not possible without the involvement of Pakistan because “like India occupies one part of Kashmir, another part of its territory is with Pakistan.”

The Hizbul, he said, will “accept any solution reached at througha tripartite dialogue, whether in favour of India or Pakistan”. Stressingupon the need for a dialogue, he said that “even if the violence andbloodshed continues for another ten years, still all the parties have tocome to the negotiating table to find a solution to the dispute”. Dar alsoappealed to both “pro-India and freedom-loving parties to help make thedialogue a success.”

Lauding the role of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Dar said the Hizbul respected Hurriyat. “But the way they (Hurriyat) had gone silent shows that Hurriyat lacks a policy on the issue,” he said claiming that “things will not work like this.” He said a coordination committee was to be soon established between the Hizbul and the Hurriyat. “We are ready to initiate a dialogue with Hurriyat,” he said.

Denying any split in the Hizbul ranks, Dar told the newsagency that all decisons, whether from here or from across the border, are being taken after a consensus and that he and Syed Salahuddin communicate with each other daily.

Dar also strongly denied that the outfit was still talking to the Government through secret channels. “Whatever we do, we do openly,” he said. “If the Central Government and Farooq Abdullah wish the dialogue process to be strengthened, they should change their attitudes which creates mistrust between the negotiating parties. Instead they should help get the parties closer to each other,” Dar said.