Musharraf briefed the Hurriyat delegation on his proposals to resolve the Kashmir issue and his recent talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Altogether 45 participants from India and Pakistan, including retired generals, former bureaucrats, journalists and politicians are participating in the three-day meet on Kashmir.
After the meeting with the Pak PM, separatist leaders admitted that differences persisted.
Accusing the UN of working under the influence of America the Hurriyat faction alleged that in the name of fighting terrorism, terror acts were taking place in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Kashmir. Today when the world is observing the anniversary of the United Nations, Hurriyat wants to clarify to its General Secretary that resolution of the Kashmir issue held the key to peace in the South Asian region.
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Friday claimed that the initiative of the separatist amalgam for "trilateral talks" with India and Pakistan has been received well in Islamabad.
Speaking to rediff.com from his residence in Srinagar, Farooq said that the issue would be debated on next Friday during the Hurriyat meeting in the Valley headquarters to take a view on the developments that have taken place since Sunday afternoon.
Hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had asked the non-Kashmiri work force to leave the valley after the rape-and-murder of 14-year-old Tabinda Jan in Langate area of Kupwara district in which 2 labourers were allegedly involved.
The Centre is acting tough with Kashmir's separatist leaders by taking on their foreigner wives, refusing them to stay with their husbands in Jammu and Kashmir.
Musharraf assured the delegation that any resolution of the Kashmir issue will be finalised only after ascertaining the wishes of the the Kashmiri people. \n
Reacting to National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah's appeal to separatists to come forward for talks to solve the Kashmir issue, the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference on Monday termed the suggestion as one born out of "frustration".
Ahead of its Pakistan visit from Monday, separatist outfit Hurriyat Conference Sunday said it will discuss the Kashmir issue with President Pervez Musharraf and other Pakistan leaders.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday evening released chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.They were arrested ahead of their march to Lal Chowk last month. Geelani was taken to a hospital in Srinagar on Monday evening, after he complained of sickness in police custody.
The meeting presided over by APHC chairman Moulvi Mohammad Abbas Ansari is being attended by all senior members, including executive members Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone, Hurriyat sources said.
The Shia organisation had previously sided with the hardline leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of All-Party Hurriyat Conference, has claimed that on July 13, the country will witness one of the biggest peaceful protests in their struggle for resolution of problem of Jammu and Kashmir.
Musharraf's proposals of demilitarisation, self governance and joint management could provide a foundation for the resolution of the Kashmir issue after appropriate amendments, Farooq said.
The Mirwaiz has accused Dr Singh of not living up to the promises he made.
Former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who along with another moderate leader Abdul Gani Bhat, attended the two-hour meeting, said such interactions should increase and similar meetings should be held in Muzaffarabad, Srinagar and Jammu.
Terming the ongoing polls in the state as a "drama", moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Monday appealed to the international community to send delegations to Jammu and Kashmir on a fact-finding mission.
The Hurriyat leader has initiated some steps for return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and held talks with their representatives in this regard.
Nasir was arrested along with two prominent businessmen.
Supporting the India-Pakistan talks and peace process, he said dialogue was imperative but there should be the world community's involvement at a certain level to reach a solution acceptable to all the parties concerned.
He said India was "scared" of taking any bold initiative while Pakistan had shown "great flexibility" vis-a-vis the resolution of the vexed Kashmir issue.
Hurriyat in touch with Kashmiri Pandits
India and Pakistan look to take the peace process to the next level.
Mirwaiz extended an open invitation to all pro-freedom groups to join the Hurriyat Conference to strengthen it.
The meeting comes ahead of Dr Singh's meeting with Musharraf to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
However, the APC failed to make any headway in his proposed formation of working groups as some political parties opposed the move.
The Hurriyat delegation, also comprising Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone, was slated to return on January 24.
In significant remarks, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has called for an end to armed struggle to resolve the Kashmir issue as it has only created "more graveyards", and said the dialogue process should be given a chance.
Indirectly blaming the militant groups for the attack, Khan said it seems to be the work of the forces opposed to the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.
"We wanted to meet the Indian and Pakistani leaders," he said, adding, "The Pakistan High Commission has invited us to meet Musharraf but there has been no positive response from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's office as yet."
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