When Hurriyat Conference leaders sit with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow for direct talks, the stakes are high for both sides: this round will determine the future of the Centre’s ambitious Kashmir all-party roundtables, its relationship with the Hurriyat and the credibility of the separatist moderates on the ground in the Valley.For New Delhi, these direct talks are actually a preparatory session towards convincing the moderates to join the second all-party roundtable—the first one was called on February 25—scheduled for May 25 in Srinagar, which will be attended by the Prime Minister.The separatists’ participation is deemed to give credence to the Centre’s peace process especially as the entire separatist brigade boycotted the first session of the Kashmir roundtable.These talks are also seen as New Delhi’s attempt to rope in separatist moderates by assuaging their “sense of hurt” after they felt marginalized when the Centre expanded its Kashmir dialogue to every shade of political opinion including the mainstream.Sources said the Hurriyat moderates, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, are not averse to joining the May 25 roundtable but want the Centre to help it save its image on the ground and ensure that the moderates return home with something “concrete” to face the hardline opposition. Sources in the Hurriyat said the delegation has taken at least three proposals for discussion, proposals which the leaders have discussed with Islamabad as well.“Whatever (proposals) Hurriyat is going to discuss with Prime minister Singh has the blessings of Pak President Musharraf,’’ a senior leader told The Indian Express.Among the proposals are a “united states of Kashmir,” the Andorra model based on the concept of suzerainty without altering the sovereignty of either country, and self-rule for Kashmir with demilitarization on either side of the Line of Control.The question of joining the Srinagar rountable, however, is a sensitive one for Hurriyat. The conglomerate is generally in favour of participation as a continuous engagement with New Delhi that gives it a larger role and makes it politically relevant. At the same time, it is apprehensive of risking its credibility in Valley, where participation is likely to be seen as a “surrender” given that hardline separatists led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani as well as militant groups are openly opposing it.This is where a “demonstratively successful” pre-roundtable meeting with PM can come handy. “We are hopeful that unlike last round, Prime minister Manmohan Singh will make some announcement that will help the Hurriyat to silence the detractors of the peace process on the ground in the Valley,’’ a senior leader said.“But this time we will not raise side issues like the release of detainees or human rights violations in the meeting. Last time, the Centre promised several measures but once talks were over, nothing was done. They (the Centre) had promised to release 50 detainees and had asked us to give names. We wanted few important people to be released but they eventually refused.’’ It is learnt that Hurriyat had sought the release of separatist leader Sheikh Aziz, Mohamamd Qasim Fakto and Zamrooda but New Delhi didn’t agree.Also, the amalgam has strong reservations about participating in a “crowded conference” like the first roundtable, which its leaders think is geared to reduce the profile of Hurriyat and render its leadership as “an inconsequential part” of the collective leadership of the state.“We are not averse to the participation of parties like National Conference, PDP etc but we would not want it to be open to everybody. There is a need for some quality control,’’ a leader said.The amalgam will certainly press for a reduction in the number of J-K leaders attending the conference.
