By Agence India Press,
New Delhi: While expressing hopes for a solution to the Kashmir dispute, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday disclosed that the Central government was holding talks with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in the past offered to talk to every shade of people in J&K, including those in the Hurriyat.
The response to the statements from the government has been encouraging, he told the House.
The minister added that “these will be quiet talks, away from the glare of the media”.
“I am in favour of quiet talks and quiet diplomacy far off from the glare of the media,” he said. “At the appropriate stage, I will share with the House the contours of the settlement that may emerge,” he said, adding he could not share details of the talks at this moment.
The minister further said the government would not shy away from talking to any organisation, some of which are demanding self-rule.
Asked if J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too shared the Centre’s perception of having “quiet talks”, he said, “I think I know Omar Abdullah’s position… we are on the same page.”
The Home Minister’s remarks came just days after Omar, in a shift of stand, favoured triangular talks among India, Pakistan and separatist leadership.
Omar had also offered to be a facilitator if militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen wanted to come to the negotiating table.
‘No talks with Pak’
Answering supplementary, he said there will be no talks with Pakistan unless it brings to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks.
“There are no talks with Pakistan,” he said. “The Prime Minister has already stated that unless Pakistan brings to book the preparatory of 26/11 Mumbai (terror) attacks and dismantles terrorist infrastructure (in that country), there is no scope for talks with Pakistan,” Chidambaram said.
The Home Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in October stated that “talks could be held with anyone who has any meaningful idea for promoting peace and development in Kashmir”.
Singh was also willing to carry all sections of the people in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir, Chidambaram said.
He said some groups have indicated an interest in holding talks and pointed out that there was tremendous improvement in security situation in the state during the past few months.