Talks minus us won146;t sort out Kashmir, says Mirwaiz

Talks of fresh thinking for a solution to the Kashmir problem from across the border today elicited a guarded response from Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who sought the group8217;s involvement at the highest level and warned no permanent resolution could be achieved over their heads.

8220;We support the Pakistan President but also seek a credible Kashmiri participation in the talks,8221; Mirwaiz told The Indian Express. However, he denied he was meeting N N Vohra in New Delhi on his way to Ireland early next week.

8220;Our back channel talks are on with New Delhi but that doesn8217;t mean we are going to meet Vohra. We will only talk to the Prime Minister.8221;

Mirwaiz agreed that Musharraf8217;s pro-active approach to Kashmir was squeezing the Kashmir separatists8217; space. 8220;But we retain our significance,8221; he said.