Separatist fail to turn up for UK's FAC meeting

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) The Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) of United Kingdom's House of Commons discussion with political leaders and separatists from Kashmir turned out to be a disappointment as major participants failed to turn up.

The separatists-- Moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chief Yaseen Malik, who had confirmed their participation-- did not turn up for the meeting.

Even former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who was scheduled to attend, was conspicuous by his absence.

The seven-member FAC, led by Chairman Mike Gapes of the Labour Party, is visiting India and Pakistan in preparation for a wide- ranging report on South Asia, including on India's emerging role, and UK policy.

National Conference President Omar Abdullah and CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami were the only Kashmiri political leaders who were part of the discussion held for about an hour-and-a-half.

Some Kashmir experts were also at the meeting which discussed political and economic developments in Kashmir since the 2002 elections, state of the India-Pakistan peace process, including impact of CBMs in Kashmir, Centre-state relations and the Prime Minister's dialogue with separatist parties, regional profiles and intra-regional relations in the state, militancy and role of the security forces, human rights and the situation of Kashmiri Pandit and other refugees.

Besides Mr Gapes, the FAC comprises Labour Party's Mr Fabian Hamilton, Mr Greg Pope, Mr Eric Illsley and Ms Sandra Osborne, Mr John Horam from the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat Paul Keetch.

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