April 18, 2002	Thursday	Safar 4, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, April 17: Kashmir Committee Chairman Sardar Abdul Qayyum has held discussions with Kashmiri leaders from across the Line of Control in the United Arab Emirates for finding a peaceful political settlement of the Kashmir issue, All Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference President Sardar Atiq told Dawn on Wednesday.

According to sources, Sardar Qayyum proceeded to the UAE on Monday to meet members of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference.

Prior to his departure, the government issued a notification giving Sardar Qayyum the status of a federal minister, official sources confirmed.

From the Indian side, sources said, minister of state for external affairs, Omar Abdullah, was also reported to be in UAE when the meetings took place. Omar Abdullah has been assigned the task of visiting Muslim countries to explain India’s position on communal riots in Gujarat. He reportedly told journalists that he was holidaying in UAE.

The AJKMC president said Hurriyet Conference leaders, including its former chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, Kashmir American Association chief Dr Ghulam Fai and Sardar Abdul Qayyum held three rounds of discussions before the final round on Wednesday.

Sardar Atiq said discussions of the Kashmiri leaders focussed on initiating a peaceful process which could lead to a political solution of the issue.

In response to a question about official backing for the meeting, the AJKMC president said Pakistani diplomats in UAE were facilitating the stay of Sardar Qayyum during the meeting. Sources said Pakistan and India allowed Kashmiri leaders from both sides of the LoC to discuss the Kashmir issue to find ways for a peaceful settlement.

However, there was no official confirmation of the meeting by the foreign office despite repeated attempts. But, sources said the leaders attending the meeting in UAE would give recommendations to their respective governments for ending violence in Kashmir.

Sardar Atiq said the meeting continued throughout the day on Wednesday and Sardar Qayyum was expected back on Thursday.

He said the meeting between the Kashmiri leaders represented the back channel diplomacy on Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

He said Kashmir issue was discussed during the visit of the Indian point man on Kashmir, K.C. Pant.

According to sources, Pant, who is also Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s advisor on Kashmir affairs, conveyed the desire of the Indian government to take meaningful steps on Kashmir to Pakistani ministers, including the finance minister Shaukat Aziz, during his visit to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation finance and planning ministers conference.

Though the officials termed the meeting as coincidental, sources said it was planned on the sidelines.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia but the venue was changed because of delays in the issuance of visas.

A member of President’s Kashmir Committee said it was agreed that Pakistan would send a delegation to India for defusing the war hysteria and paving way for talks to resolve the dispute.