'Kashmir separatists hold secret talks with PC'

New Delhi, Nov 18: Kashmir's separatist alliance leaders held secret talks with Home Minister P Chidambaram in efforts to resume peace talks to end insurgency in the state, a media report said on Tuesday, Nov 17.

According to The Hindu newspaper report, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, held talks with the Home Minister in New Delhi last weekend.

Farooq denied holding a meeting with Chidambaram in New Delhi, but said, "there have been some back-channel contacts between the Hurriyat and the government."

The Hurriyat has urged New Delhi to pull out troops, release prisoners and end human rights violations before resuming peace talks.

Dialogue between the government and the separatists broke down in 2006.

Last month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered to resume talks during his visit to Kashmir.

OneIndia News