NEW DELHI, DEC 25: In New Delhi Home Minister L K Advani hinted at the possibility of talks with militant organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen and did not rule out a dialogue with Pakistan after an ``assessment'' of its behaviour during the extended ceasefire peace initiative in Kashmir.Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Musharraf said ``India should invite the Hurriyat leadership for talks and there should be talks later between India and Pakistan.'' Pakistan had earlier insisted on its involvement in trilateral talks on the Kashmir issue right from the start.
About the Hurriyat leaders' possible visit to Pakistan, he said it was his country which had invited the Hurriyat leadership for talks.
Appreciating the steps taken by India to push the peace process in Jammu and kashmir, Musharraf said the talks between the two countries should start immediately to resolve the Kashmir issue.
``We have made progress and taken several steps. India has also taken some steps. Now, the talks should begin immediately,'' he said.
Asked about any chance of his visiting India, Musharraf said there should be an invitation for it.
Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Qazi Ashraf Jehangir, today said that the situation along the Line of Control was ``more promising than in the recent past'' and it was ready for talks with India. He said the talks should be unconditional.
``The situation does seem to be promising than it has been for some time,'' Qazi told a TV channel during a discussion.
On whether Pakistan could be trusted for sincerity in peace talks, Qazi said ``trust must emerge from a negotiating process in which we address each other's concern no matter how different our perspectives are with respect to the problem''.
Meanwhile, Advani today hinted at the possibility of talks with militant organisations. ``That possibility is there,'' he said when asked about the chances of the Centre starting a dialogue with militant groups in the state. He said the situation would be reviewed after Republic Day when the extension is set to end.
``I would like to emphasise that dialogue with our people in J and K would naturally have to include all sections like the ruling National Conference, the main Opposition Congress, BJP, leftists and representatives from Jammu and Ladakh,'' he added.
``And if militant organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen are prepared to lay down arms and become part of the dialogue, they are also welcome,'' the home minister said.
Quite significantly, he added ``the Hurriyat Conference must realise this. They have been issuing statements as if they are the sole representative of the people of J and K.''
He maintained that resumption of the stalled dialogue with Pakistan depended on Islamabad stopping the support and assistance it has been giving to cross-border terrorism in India. Asked whether this ruled out talks with Pakistan in the immediate future, he said ``we don't say that''.
``Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has already stated that the Ministry of External Affairs will explore the possibility (of resumption of talks),'' he said.
Asserting that Islamabad has been feeling the ``pinch'' of isolation, the home minister said ``if it earnestly desires peace there should be evidence of it''.
He made light of the Pakistani announcement of troop withdrawal from the Line of Control, saying the Government was more concerned about Islamabad's involvement in cross-border terrorism.
Advani said from the point of view of security in J and K, the months immediately following the Kargil conflict witnessed militants stepping up killings and this aggravation of the situation in the state spilled over to the beginning of this year.
The security forces struck back with intensity and by September this year they had an ``unprecedented dominant position'' in the state. ``Never before had the militants suffered such attrition as they suffered this year.''
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
