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A Norwegian parliamentarian, who heads the Kashmir Parliamentary Group of Norway and viewed as pro-Pakistan by New Delhi, visited Jammu and Kashmir and met with prominent figures of the Valley.
Among those whom he met were Governor G C Saxena, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and All Party Hurriyat Conference leaders.
In the past, the MP Lars Rise was denied a visa to visit India, sources say.
However, this time, the ministry of external affairs not only gave him permission to visit the Valley but also facilitated his visit. He was accompanied by an advisor.
Rise was in Srinagar on Friday. During the day, he met with senior APHC leaders, the chief minister and senior bureaucrats.
According to a Hurriyat spokesman, Rise held discussions with senior Hurriyat leaders about the prevailing situation in the Valley, alleged human rights violations among other issues.
The APHC leaders also told him that the government-initiated ceasefire is a hollow offer and only tripartite talks can solve the crisis.
Rise later met Chief Minister Abdullah and the two discussed the situation in the state, infiltration, Pakistan's role in militancy in the Valley among other issues.
The Norwegian MP also interacted with senior bureaucrats based in Srinagar.
He missed the flight to Jammu on Friday and later left for Jammu by road.
At the winter capital of the state, Rise met with Governor Saxena. The two are believed to have extensively discussed the situation in the state. The governor appraised him about the initiatives being taken by the state government for restoring normalcy in the state.
Rise and his advisor are expected to leave New Delhi later on Saturday night.
ALSO SEE Government initiated ceasefire in J&K
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