NEW DELHI, Aug 27: Kashmir’s All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Tuesday rejected a US move to get pro-freedom groups to participate in Indian-backed state polls in Kashmir, news reports said.

They said the APHC’s rejection, following an emergency meeting of its executive committee, came with a similar position taken by Shabir Shah’s Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party who also turned down a fresh US appeal to take part in the democratic exercise.

“We are not among those who run away from the polls,” APHC chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat said, adding, “we will fight elections on a principle and the principle is that the elections should not be for forming a government or running an administration, but for deciding our future.”

He told reporters in Srinagar the elections should be held to decide whether Kashmiris want to remain with India, join neighbouring Pakistan or remain independent. “And those elections also we will contest under the supervision of the world community.”

APHC leaders would however visit New Delhi soon to resume their dialogue with the Kashmir Committee aimed at kick-starting a dialogue with pro-freedom groups in Kashmir. The Kashmir Committee, headed by former minister Ram Jethmalani, had extended an invitation for talks to the APHC on Aug 17.

Bhat was quoted by India Today’s web-based newspaper as saying that APHC leaders would set off on “public-contact” campaign from Friday. “We will apprise the people what transpired between us and the Kashmir Committee,” said Bhat, adding the masses would also be given reasons for “why Hurriyat decided against taking part in the polls.”

Shabir Shah, rejecting the US suggestion to participate in the elections, said: “Dialogue should precede elections and not the other way round.”

Senior US official Lisa Curtis, who is holding meetings with separatists in Srinagar said on Monday election was an opportunity for separatists to help establish peace in the state and she impressed upon them to avail the opportunity.