NEW DELHI, DEC 6: Abdul Ghani Bhat, Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), today termed the Indian Government's refusal to have a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir through the Hurriyat's ``mediation'' as ``disheartening''.Bhat, who maintained that APHC members will debate the issue threadbare in Srinagar before coming out with any reaction, said India's attitude was not helping in a creating a conducive atmosphere for lasting peace in Kashmir.Talking to The Indian Express, he said APHC leaders were interested in visiting Islamabad to ``hold consultations with Pakistan'' as to how it should conduct talks with the Centre.``We have no dispute with Pakistan; we have problems with India so we wanted to speak to them before talking to New Delhi.''Hurriyat leaders, however, have been in regular touch with Pakistan through their High Commissioner in Delhi. They are visiting the High commission again tomorrow for an iftaar party after which they will return to Srinagar.Bhat's stand seemed tougher today as compared to the Hurriyat's apparent policy of maintaining equidistant from both New Delhi and Pakistan. However, sources said Hurriyat leaders were not surprised at the External Affairs Ministry's announcement that India was not in favour of talking to Pakistan.The Indian stand does not close the dialogue between New delhi and the APHC, as Pakistan has already said it has no objection to such an exercise. Bhat too has said it does not matter whether APHC speaks to India or Pakistan first.Government sources, however, do not rule out the possibility of issuing passports to Hurriyat leaders so that they can visit Pakistan and perhaps act as emissaries of the Indian government. In Srinagar, Hurriyat leader Umar Farooq said the organisation was still hopeful of a government nod to visit Pakistan.``We are still hopeful that India will allow us to visit to Pakistan,'' Farooq said.Umar is part of the proposed group of the Hurriyat executive, who as perthe formula evolved by Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, would have talked to Pakistan while the other engaged with India. Umar and Yasin Malik and Abdul Gani Lone, now in Pakistan, are counted among the Hurriyat liberals while Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Abdul Gani Bhat and Moulvi Abass Ansari are considered pro-Pak hardliners.About the government's refusal to include Pakistan in any talks, he said, ``While we are sincere in addressing the issue, the Government's approach is certainly not positive. The blame should not be on us, now that India has rejected Pakistan's inclusion.''Regarding autonomy for the state, Umar said that was out of question.``We are not here to discuss autonomy, but resolution of the crisis as per the aspirations of the people,'' he said.With Government rejecting Pakistan's involvement in the dialogue, the Hurriyat Chairman's formula seems to have failed to take off. Meanwhile, Hurriyat leaders are busy roping in ambassadors of the five UN permanent members and countries of the contact group, recently formed to bring pressure on India, to allow them to travel to Pakistan.
