PM to be briefed on dialogue with Kashmir separatists

Jammu: The Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir has been pushing forward a "quiet dialogue between separatists and the Centre [federal government]" for drawing up a roadmap for the resolution of the Kashmir crisis, according to official sources.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will visit Kashmir for two days from June 7, will be discussing "threadbare the progress of talks with chief minister Omar Abdullah", highly-placed official sources in the know of the talks told IANS on condition that they were not identified.

Although the prime minister is visiting Kashmir to address the convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, the primary objective is to assess the movement forward in the dialogue process and how it can be taken to its logical conclusion.

Security situation

Omar Abdullah, the sources disclosed, has made it plain that the success of the dialogue depended upon upholding of human rights and an atmosphere of peace in the state. According to them, the chief minister is of the view that Delhi alone can rejuvenate the whole process by restraining security forces from committing excesses. Speeding up of development would connect the people to peace and raise their stakes in bringing normalcy as well as encourage separatists to focus on talks rather than on issues that could stir trouble.

The sources said Abdullah would be drawing the attention of Manmohan Singh to the recommendations of five working groups which were constituted at the conclusion of the second round table conference on Kashmir in Srinagar in May 2006. These groups deliberated on the issues of confidence-building measures, economic development, strengthening of ties across the Line of Control, good governance and centre-state relations.