03 November 2004	Wednesday	19 Ramazan 1425

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NEW DELHI, Nov 2: India formally invited the All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq on Tuesday for talks this week with senior officials, possibly including Home Minister Shivraj Patil, official sources said.

They noted that Mr Patil was due on a visit to Srinagar from Friday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due to visit Kashmir in the third week, possibly before his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz tentatively scheduled on Nov 23.

Former APHC chairman Prof Abdul Ghani Bhatt, in Delhi on Tuesday, did not refer to the Indian invitation but said a positive outcome to the Kashmir issue was in the air.

"The nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan are proving to be too weak before the forces of history. Momentous days are ahead and I am very hopeful," he told Dawn during an Iftar party hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan.

Kashmir hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was also present at the Iftar but he appeared to stay away from Bilal Lone, Javed Ahmed Mir, Shabbir Shah and Yasin Malik, all leaders who have in their turn distanced themselves from Mr Geelani.

Mr Lone said he was optimistic about uniting the fractious leadership to present a point of view for future talks. He is being tipped as a member of the group of Kashmiris planning to travel to Pakistan for political talks.