Talks with Hurriyat later this month

The much awaited talks on Kashmir between Dy Prime Minister L K Advani and the Hurriyat Conference will be held in the last week of December. The meeting will take place once Parliament’s winter session gets over on December 23.

Asked about the talks, Advani confirmed it would be held before the end of the year. ‘‘I am hopeful that the talks will be held this month itself,’’ he said. Earlier, sources had said that the meeting would take place only after the Parliament session. Sources said that the Hurriyat had not yet come up with its list of members who would be participating in the talks. Advani is likely to be accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande, Home Secy N. Gopalaswami, Director Intelligence Bureau K. P. Singh, Special Secretary (J-K) B. B. Mishra and N. N. Vohra.