NEW DELHI: Heads of rival factions of Kashmir’s All Parties Hurriyat Conference made a rare appearance together in Srinagar on Tuesday, discussing the 125-day-old standoff with the government, reports said.

They said the resistance leaders held a meeting in Srinagar with traders and other organisations to chalk out their future course of action.

Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat faction head Syed Ali Geelani were present at the meeting to which all the forums — including educationists, transporters, civil society members, religious, social and political organisations, and bar association — were called.

Discuss future plans with traders, other stakeholders

According to the reports, various issues regarding the ongoing uprising and other issues like education and conduct of examinations came up during the talks.

The meeting came after the government allowed the trio to meet on Sunday for the first time in the past four months since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, which threw the entire held Valley into turmoil.

On November 2, the authorities did not allow a similar meeting, by barring the leaders from entering the residence of Mr Geelani.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2016