PM's doors open for dialogue with Moderate Hurriyat

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's doors are not closed for dialogue with the moderate Hurriyat Conference or any section of public opinion in Jammu and Kashmir to push the peace process forward, sources said today.

They said the leadership appreciates the fact that it was the Mirwaiz-led moderate Hurriyat Conference that has come on board to take a positive position on the dialogue with the Prime Minister.

The moderate Hurriyat Conference has so far held two rounds of talks with the Prime Minister. Dr Singh met a Hurriyat delegation, led by the Mirwaiz, for the first time on September 5, 2005.

The second round was held on May 3, 2006. Union Water Resources Minister and senior Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader Saiffudin Soz was instrumental for making the second phase of the dialogue possible.

When asked about the third round of talks between the Prime Minister and the Hurriyat, Mr Soz said, ''such a meeting requires mutual convinience of Dr Singh as well as amalgam leaders.'' Mr Soz said the Hurriyat Conference remained relevant to the peace process as it had chosen the path of ''dialogue and negotations'' to achieve the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

UNI