The Hindu : National : Omar seeks dialogue and ceasefire

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Sunday, May 20, 2007
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Omar seeks dialogue and ceasefire

Staff Reporter

Dialogue should also include United Jehad Council, he says "If roundtable can bring the separatists to the dialogue table the NC would not be not opposed to it"

JAMMU: The National Conference president and the former Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, has demanded that a dialogue be initiated with militant leaders and also called for a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir to expedite the peace process.

Talking to reporters on Friday at the National Conference headquarters, Mr. Abdullah said, "The dialogue process by the Centre should not be limited to Hizb-ul Mujahideen but should include the leaders of the United Jehad Council (an amalgam of militant outfits active in J&K). Decisions of ceasefire and talks with the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, initiated during the NDA regime in 2001, should be taken up again.''

He clarified that holding a separate roundtable for separatists by the Centre was not his idea. If that was the only way to bring the separatists to the negotiating table the NC was not opposed to it. He said that the time had come for India and Pakistan to seriously discuss the demand for autonomy to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said, "the autonomy plan is clear that it accepts Indian sovereignty over the Jammu and Kashmir but at the same time it meets the aspirations of the people of the State and its distinct character."

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