A New Delhi-Srinagar agreement with Pakistan on board is one of the key objectives of the ongoing Track II initiatives between India and Pakistan and the “quiet” dialogue between the Centre and Hurriyat, says Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Speaking to The Indian Express at his residence here today, Mirwaiz, who held talks with Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik on Sunday, said there was forward movement on many fronts which could, hopefully, lead to a “substantive” outcome.

“A lot is happening. Work is going on...on many possible solutions, one of which is an agreement between New Delhi and Srinagar with Pakistan’s blessings,” Mirwaiz said.

India and Pakistan have had two rounds of meetings in Bangkok in the past three weeks — the dialogue was held between former Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan and former RAW chief A S Dullat.

However, Mirwaiz said the basic paradigm of the engagement is inspired by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point proposal for an acceptable solution to Kashmir. “India is not ready for the joint-management part of the proposals which talk about joint control of foreign affairs, currency and communications in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said. “There’s a broader agreement on the other aspects of this settlement model”.

Mirwaiz said that on Kashmir the new dispensation in Islamabad hasn’t departed markedly from the approach adopted by Musharraf’s government. He said the thrust was on finding an interim political solution that can then be revisited and built upon after a period of five to 10 years. As for a Delhi-Srinagar agreement, Mirwaiz refused to draw an analogy with the 1975 accord between the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and National Conference leader Sheikh Abdullah. That agreement didn’t have Pakistan’s approval. “We need something that has every party on board. Pakistan is part of the external dimension of the issue and, therefore, has to be in the loop,” Mirwaiz said.

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