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Kashmiri Pro-Independence Group Offers Talks With Indian Government
Responding to a unilateral ceasefire enforced by the Indian government and army in India-controlled Kashmir during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of 23 pro-independence outfits in Kashmir, on Sunday formally welcomed the ceasefire and offered talks with the Indian government.
A Hurriyat spokesman said after a stormy meeting of the group's seven-member executive council convened on Sunday in Srinagar, regional capital of India-controlled Kashmir, that Hurriyat leadership discussed "the situation arising out of the unilateral ceasefire and unanimously reiterated its stand that Hurriyat will take part in any meaningful and result-oriented political process aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue permanently," the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
A statement issued by the Hurriyat said "it considers the announcement of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's unilateral Ramadan ceasefire as a positive change in the policy of Government of India," the PTI added.
"The Hurriyat leadership is of the opinion that they be given a chance to initiate talks with militant leadership besides governments of India and Pakistan so that a process for meaningful and result-oriented dialogue for resolution of Kashmir issue and restoration of peace in Kashmir is started," the statement said.
Stating that "Hurriyat resolves to work untidily and with discipline to reach its goal", the statement warned those forces " who want to create confusion and division in the ranks of Hurriyat ", saying these efforts "will fail", the PTI added.
The current unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir started late last month. While "some peace", in Vajpayee's words, is prevailing along the Line of Control, Kashmiri militants haven't stopped their attacks on Indian security forces and army camps in the past few weeks.
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