For Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the breakdown of talks between the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Indian government ought to have come as a blessing.

Not because he is not keen on the return of peace in his state. On the contrary.

For Farooq, the question would always be: how can an administration that was dismissive of his government's autonomy resolution, talk to those who will settle for nothing less than azaadi?

That dilemma, however, did not prevent the chief minister from backing the Hizbul-inspired peace talks.

What are the chances of the insurgency dying out, now that the Hizbul has taken to the gun again? What will happen to the NC, if the militants, whose hold over the popular imagination outstrips the mindspace occupied by the National Conference, were to return to the democratic path? Find out from Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah when he appears on The Rediff Chat on August 11 at 0900 hours IST (August 10, 2330 EDT).