At a time when reports emanating from New Delhi suggest that the Centre is contemplating to extend fresh invitation to various political groups in Jammu and Kashmir, including both factions of Hurriyat Conference alliance for talks, a group of people associated with Track II diplomacy is camping in Srinagar reportedly to gauge the mood of the leadership especially separatists.
The team comprising Admiral (retired) K.K. Nayyar, former vice-chancellor of Jammu University Amitabh Mattoo and Jamia Milia Islamia professor Radha Kumar which arrived here early this week has had detailed discussions with chief minister Omar Abdullah, some of his senior colleagues in the government and ruling National Conference-Congress coalition and Opposition PDP leadership.
The team is now trying to establish contact with the separatist leaders, including jailed Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik. However, Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has refused to meet the team believed in local political circles to have been encouraged by the Centre to visit the Valley to persuade the separatists. The Mirwaiz’s aide Shahid-ul-Islam told reporters that Mr Umar politely declined to meet the team.