SRINAGAR, AUG 19: Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat today clarified that the proposal to divide the Hurriyat into two groups to initiate talks with New Delhi and Islamabad was his "personal" view and hoped that it would be accepted by the two sides as also Hurriyat."We have put forth several proposals to break the ice in the past but they were not heeded to. Now I have come forward with the proposal, which is my idea to divide the Hurriyat into two groups one of which will go to India and talk to the leaders in Delhi and other group to Islambad to talk to Pakistani leaders with regard to future of Kashmir," Bhat told PTI here.He said if his proposal is accepted - at the people's level, governments of India and Pakistan and most importantly the Hurriyat Conference - "I have no doubt that this will work wonders in the days to come"."So far the proposal is mine and not of the Hurriyat Conference. Until Hurriyat discusses the proposal and adopts or ratifies it, it should be considered my personal opinion", he clarified."If the proposal is accepted, I am confident, a conducive political atmosphere will grip India and Pakistan and a serious discussion will be initiated towards resolution of Kashmir issue which will help restore peace in the state," he said.The Hurriyat stand was clear beyond doubt that the return of peace to J&K was not possible till the Kashmir issue in which both India and Pakistan were parties was resolved, Bhat said.About Union Home Minister L K Advani's latest statement that the government was prepared to hold dialogue with any militant group, Bhat said, "We seek to facilitate peace process with reference, of course, to the resolution of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir".He, however, denied reports that there had been contacts between the Hurriyat and Indian government at any level."Absolutely no", he said, adding "unofficial level contact should not be misconstrued as a formal meeting or formal exchange of ideas".Asked if the Hurriyat executive, which is meeting later today, will discuss his proposal, Bhat said senior leaders including Umer Farooq, Yaseen Malik and Abdul Gani Lone were out of station, and the discussion could be deferred.He declined comment on the Hizbul statement that the Hurriyat should take over leadership of militants, if it considered militancy as the only means to achieve freedom.Bhat denied that there were differences between Hurriyat and Hizbul and said "a comprehensive peace initiative involving all parties to the dispute - India, Pakistan and Hurriyat Conference" would help to resolve the issue.About Hurriyat's show cause notice to Fazal Haq Qureshi for agreeing to negotiate with the Centre as Hizbul representative, he said the 15-day deadline given to him had not yet expired and his reply was awaited.Defence Minister George Fernandes said in New Delhi today that "technicalities" should not come in the way of initiation of a dialogue with Kashmiri militant groups asserting that Government was ready for talks with them without any pre-conditions.Strongly refuting that there were any differences in the Government regarding talks, he said that Government felt that the problem in Kashmir could be solved only through a dialogue.In an apparent reaction to recent statements of some Hizbul Mujahideen leaders on resumption of talks, the Defence Minister, interviewed on a television programme to be telecast on Doordarshan News channel tomorrow night, described these developments as "positive"."People like Hizbul Mujahideen are Kashmiris. they are Indians. our own citizens. We cannot hesitate to talk to them. what is wrong in talking to them", Fernandes said.
