August 23, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani 13,1423

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NEW DELHI, Aug 22: India’s government-backed Kashmir Committee on Thursday sent a formal invitation to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for talks in New Delhi.

The head of the Kashmir Committee, former federal law minister Ram Jethmalani, also wrote to Shabbir Shah “for continuation of talks to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue”, Star News reported.

The report said the committee, in its formal invitation to Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and senior leader Shabbir Shah, asserted that: “It would be appreciated that a structured dialogue can go on for hammering out a peaceful and lasting solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.”

There are also reports that the Kashmir Committee could use this opportunity to fix a meeting of the leaders with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, the news channel said.

The breakaway pro-freedom leader Shabbir Shah has expressed a desire to meet the two leaders provided a formal invitation is extended, the report said.

Jethmalani, who visited the Kashmir valley recently, was perturbed over the attitude of the Hurriyat Conference and had alleged that the APHC was dancing to the tune of Pakistan.

However, on Thursday he spoke in a different tune, and vowed to continue his efforts to ensure their greater participation in Kashmir elections.

He cautioned the government that the opportunity to find a lasting solution to Kashmir will be missed if “separatists” are not invited to carry forward the dialogue process.

“The ball is now in our (government’s) court. If there is wisdom, they will be invited. Otherwise, we will be missing the opportunity for ever,” he warned.

When it was pointed out to him that poll process was already set in motion, Jethmalani said the Election Commission has the right to review the decision as the situation in Kashmir warranted postponement of elections.