APHC team in New Delhi for talks

Published August 3, 2003

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: A delegation from Kashmir’s main freedom-seeking alliance arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for talks with government intermediaries meant to further a peace initiative between India and Pakistan.

The former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Abdul Gani Bhat, told reporters that the delegation would meet Ram Jethamalani, head of a government-appointed panel on Kashmir, along with officials and foreign diplomats.

“We are only interested in establishing a long-lasting peace between the two countries as soon as possible,” Bhat said.

Members of Jethamalani’s Kashmir panel are likely to visit Pakistan later this month to attend a conference.

Relations between India and Pakistan have thawed in recent months as the nuclear-armed neighbours restored full diplomatic links and a bus service as they inch towards resuming talks.—AFP