India ready to hold talks with 'everybody' in Kashmir

Islamabad, Apr 1: Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan has said New Delhi could consider ''everybody'' for talks on the Kashmir issue in an ''atmosphere free of violence'', but declined to give a formal response to the reported offer by United Jihad Council chairman and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin that militant groups could hold truce if included in the dialogue.

Mr Shivshankar Menon, asked if there was a possibility of New Delhi engaging militant groups in the talks over Kashmir issue, said, ''We are ready to talk with everybody and there are tremendous flexibilities within the Indian constitution which permit us to do this,'' the Dawn today reported.

The High Commissioner, who was talking to media after his speech at a South Asian Free Media Association Programme here yesterday, however, sidestepped a question on whether Salahuddin's reported statement to press that a militant ceasefire was possible if New Delhi recognised groups like his (Hizbul Mujahideen) as parties to the Kashmir issue.

''Obviously in our view the representatives of Kashmiri people are those who are elected by them as their leaders,'' Mr Menon said referring to the parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.

''But that doesn't mean we will not talk to others. But one condition both President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have agreed...is that it has to be done in an atmosphere free of violence. No terrorism. Terrorism has to be controlled,'' he added.

The HM chief had made the truce offer in a telephone interview from Pakistan with Srinagar-based Kashmir News Service.

''Not only Hizbul Mujahedeen but also the entire militant leadership would consider (a) truce if the Indian government acknowledges the disputed and tripartite nature of the Kashmir issue,'' the militant leader said but added that he wanted talks between India, Pakistan and Kashmiris before agreeing to a ceasefire.

On these remarks of the HM chief, Mr Menon said, ''I have seen what you have seen in the press... that includes ifs and buts and conditions and so on.'' However, according to Salahuddin the talks on Kashmir issue held by moderate Kashmiri separatist groups with Indian leadership ''has so far been failed to produce any breakthrough''.

''Armed confrontation would automatically recede as serious dialogue process moves forward,'' he said, citing cases of Afghanistan and Vietnam where war and dialogue had run side by side.

UNI

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