APHC-Delhi talks

In what appears to be a meaningful step towards the resolution of the Kashmir problem, New Delhi has opened talks with the Kashmiri leadership.
A delegation of the 'moderate' faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) held two-and-a-half hours long talks on Thursday with India's Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, followed by a meeting on Friday with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Both sides decided to meet again in March. Notably, the Hurriyat had split into two factions a few months ago over differences of approach in dealing with New Delhi.
While the leaders in the Hurriyat chaired by Maulana Abbas Ansari favoured a trilateral negotiations process involving Kashmiris, Pakistan and India, the hard-line pro-Pakistan groups headed by Jamaat-i-Islami leader Syed Ali Gilani wanted the negotiations to be held in a trilateral framework.
Gilani has also been critical of Ansari and his supporter, Bilal Lone, for what he regards their soft stance towards New Delhi.
However, the so-called moderate group includes some of the highly respected names such as Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhatt, and Umer Fazal Haque Qureshi - who were part of the five-member delegation that held discussions with Advani and Vajpayee.
Hence, it is not fair for anyone to cast aspersions on the intentions of these leaders.
As a matter of fact, Mir Waiz has made it clear that the talks are a part of the peace process that began in Islamabad at the Musharraf-Vajpayee summit earlier this month.
He said that "the vision" of Vajpayee and "the realism" of President Pervez Musharraf augured well for the resolution of all disputes between the two countries.
That nothing is being planned to the exclusion of Pakistan also comes out from two developments.
First, the APHC delegation has requested New Delhi for permission to go across to Islamabad to hold talks there, and Delhi has indicated its willingness to give the permission.
Second, Mir Waiz disclosed that the APHC expected to call on the Pakistani High Commissioner, Aziz Ahmad Khan, after Eid to brief him on the two meetings it held with the Indian leaders.
He also said that when the Hurriyat delegation returns to Kashmir on Sunday it will hold talks with all those who remained outside the Hurriyat.
Given that despite the split, Mir Waiz has maintained contact with Ali Gilani, it is reasonable to expect that he will also brief the members of the breakaway faction of the Hurriyat Conference and try to bring them aboard the new process.
Meanwhile, there is discernible progress on confidence-building measures within the context of Occupied Kashmir.
Which is in accordance with the Pakistani demands that India end its bloody oppression in the state. Advani, who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister said, "It is the government's foremost concern to safeguard the security of all people and to ensure against the violation of their rights."
He is reported to have agreed to undertake a rapid review process to examine the cases of imprisoned Kashmiris.
It has already been announced that some of the prisoners would be released on Eid. In an equally significant statement issued at the end of the APHC meeting with Advani the two sides noted, "the only way forward is to ensure that all forms of violence at all levels should come to an end."
This, of course, applies as much to Indian security forces as to the Kashmiri fighters. In fact, there has been considerable follow-up activity on this score too. According to some reports, the government is considering telling its security forces not to attack suspected fighters unless fired upon.
The suggestion of starting a Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, which emerged as part of Pak-India confidence-building measures, also came up for discussion at the Hurriyat leaders' meeting with Vajpayee.
Though the two sides did not reach a conclusive agreement on the subject, some earlier reports have said that the Indian government is amenable to the idea of forgoing formal passport and visa requirements and to issue permits to Kashmiri travellers, thereby conceding the Pakistani position on the issue.
All these developments signal a positive change in the environment, that may well lead to what the APHC delegation hoped would be "an honourable and durable" solution of the Kashmir problem.