Hurriyat puts off Pakistan visit,to carry on dialogue

The Hurriyat executive went into a huddle at the residence of chairman Farooq to do an introspection on its role in the ongoing engagement with the Centre. Even though there is a broad consensus on talks with New Delhi,some executive members like Shabir Shah and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza are miffed over their “secret nature”,which they argue is sowing seeds of suspicion among people. They are also sore at not being taken into confidence before the reported meetings with Home Minister P Chidambaram and the other senior officials.

These dissidents are backed by several constituent outfits from the Hurriyat’s general council,the parties like Republican Movement,Gujjar Pahari Forum,People’s Movement,Islamic Political Party and National People’s Party. They think that the top leadership is violating the Hurriyat constitution of 1993 by talking to New Delhi directly and without any mandate from all the constituent parties.

The anti-dialogue chorus that has emanated from these parties blended with the strident noises from the hawkish Hurriyat faction to create a separatist discourse arrayed against the talks. “Any decision on dialogue or otherwise has to be based on consensus and after consultation with us,” said a General Council leader. The unexpected opposition from within took even Mirwaiz by surprise,forcing him to momentarily stall the engagement with the Centre.

However,at the meeting on Saturday,Hurriyat closed ranks and resolved to get on with the dialogue. “The attack on Qureshi Sahib was made by the people who think that their political shops would be wound up once the Kashmir problem is resolved,” said a statement issued at the end of the meeting. In a thinly veiled attack at the separatist hardliners,the statement said the “inflammatory and irresponsible statements” of some leaders had contributed to the attack on Qureshi. “These leaders create misunderstandings between us and the people.”

As for the visit to the neighbouring country,sources said Pakistan had told the Hurriyat to wait until the situation in the country showed some signs of improvement. Second,Islamabad wants its entire top leadership — President Asif Ali Zardari,Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Geelani and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi — in Pakistan when the Hurriyat travels to the country.

There is also an element of distrust between the two,with Pakistan taking note of the reports of a likely Srinagar-New Delhi agreement — first broken by The Indian Express — on Kashmir. Qureshi was prompt in debunking such a pact,saying any solution without Pakistan would be unacceptable.

To make matters difficult,Hurriyat of late has asserted a measure of autonomy in its approach to the talks with the Centre. “I will tell you our decisions are now our own. We are trying to assert ourselves as a party. We do not take dictation anymore,” said a senior leader. However,the Hurriyat also wants Pakistan in the loop in any eventual settlement.