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The Rediff Interview/ Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Ghani Butt

Hurriyat Conference Chairman Abdul Ghani Butt denies newspaper reports about his meetings with Union Home Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes.

"I do not know who met these ministers in our place. It seems the media knows more about who we are meeting than we do ourselves," Butt said.

Expressing his appreciation on the initiative taken by Prime Minister Vajpayee and the Pakistani response to the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Indian government, Butt feels it is important to find out why the militants are not responding to the peace initiative taken by the Government of India.

"We must understand their point of view as well. Hopefully, they would respond to our efforts and join us in the peace dialogue," says the Hurriyat chairman.

Butt, who is camping with his Hurriyat colleagues in New Delhi since Saturday, told Special Correspondent Onkar Singh that he was hopeful about holding talks with the government's representatives. The Hurriyat delegation is also seeking travel documents from the Indian government to travel to Pakistan for a dialogue with the militant groups and the Pakistan government.

The Indian government announced a unilateral ceasefire. The Pakistani government has responded by withholding cross-border shelling. What in your opinion, should the GoI do next to take this peace process further?

The ceasefire is a means to reach an end. But by no stretch of the imagination can it be called an end in itself. The goal is something else. The ceasefire is only the first step. More steps need to be taken to reach the goal.

First, Prime Minister Vajpayee announced a unilateral ceasefire. Then we took a step forward and welcomed his step -- that was the Hurriyat Conference's contribution to the peace initiative. After that Pakistan also joined in by announcing a stop to the shelling.

Each side wants to resolve the Kashmir issue through a dialogue. These steps should be strengthened further. The ceasefire has to go beyond the month of Ramzan. If the GoI makes such an announcement this could be strengthened further. I have full faith that more such steps would be taken by all concerned sides to make it more effective. Consolidated steps would further remove all the impediments that have been blocking the peace initiative.

Have you held talks with any important minister in the central government?

We have been in Delhi since last Saturday. It seems the media knows more about what we are doing in Delhi than we do.

Though we have not met anyone in the government, the media has said that Hurriyat leaders have met L K Advani and George Fernandes. These are baseless reports.

Is it not a fact that you are here in Delhi to meet the ministers?

That is another thing. But we have not met anyone so far.

Have you met the Pakistani high commissioner?

This is not true. (But according to Union home ministry sources, the Hurriyat leaders are expected to meet High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi).

What is your position now?

Our position is the same as we have repeated to the media a number of times. We, the Hurriyat leaders want to hold talks with the GoI and the government of Pakistan. I would go one step further and like to meet the militant leaders, currently in Pakistan. We want to talk to those who wield guns and have rejected the ceasefire.

Why do you want to meet them?

To ask them why they are not accepting the offer of a ceasefire supported by the government of Pakistan. We want to know their fears about the ceasefire. What do they want? We would like to know how can we involve them in the peace initiative.

Are you sure that those wielding guns will listen to you?

I believe all hearts in the Valley want peace. Instead of the barrel of a gun, the J&K problem should be resolved through dialogue. But the problem is complicated and all of us have to make sacrifices. We would like to hold talks with the militants in Pakistan and try to understand their point of view. I cannot be certain, but I do hope they will listen to us and accept what we have to say.

The Hurriyat Conference is known for its separatist stand and Pakistan has not stopped encouraging trans-border terrorism. Under these circumstances what role do you expect to play in resolving the problem of Jammu & Kashmir?

We are not separatists. We have been labelled as separatists. If we start arguing on this issue it would continue for years.

As far as our role is concerned, we represent the sentiments of the people of Kashmir. We would like to ensure a secure future for our coming generations.

The people of Kashmir have been saying the Hurriyat should talk to the GoI and Pakistan on their behalf. We can neither be mediators nor can we be intermediaries. We are a party to the dispute. If we were allowed to freely go to Pakistan and hold talks with them, we would be able to generate a conducive environment. This will automatically lead to confidence building measures. So we have a role in the peace process and we would like to play it.

Have you been able to hold talks with those holding the guns either in the Valley or those who are dictating the militants from across the border?

No. That is why we are saying we should be allowed to go to Pakistan and talk to the militants.

Were you surprised when Prime Minister Vajpayee announced a unilateral ceasefire?

No, I was not surprised. I knew such a step would come in due course of time. With globalisation, no one can live in isolation. I was confident that both India and Pakistan would be forced to take these steps. Everyone in the world wants peace to return to the Valley. Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons. The devastation unleashed by these weapons will destroy everything.

The people of Kashmir want peace. I am sure that both India and Pakistan also want peace. Peace cannot be achieved through talks alone. You have to pay a price to purchase peace -- make a sacrifice. I want one sacrifice from both India and Pakistan. Forget what happened in the past, let us make a new beginning. Let us secure a future for our children. Yesterday was bitter. Let us make a better tomorrow.

We have to launch a comprehensive peace initiative to bring peace to the trouble-torn Valley. India, Pakistan and the Hurriyat -- representing the people of Kashmir have to sit together and achieve peace in Kashmir. No purpose would be served if any of the involved parties including the militants are left out.

On one hand we talk of peace while militants kill innocent people. Will it help? Are they not trying to sabotage the talks?

I do not blame the soldiers who are fighting in the Valley. I do not blame the militants who are fighting for freedom. There could be someone else who does not want the peace process to begin. There are vested interests in the Valley who might want the stalemate to continue.

Why are Afghan fighters fighting in Kashmir?

Anyone who is sympathetic to our cause is welcome. We are fighting a battle for freedom. No freedom fighter can be dubbed as a terrorist in the world.

If the peace process continues unhindered, how long do you think it will take before you could arrive anywhere near a solution?

Just as Rome was not built in a day, peace cannot be achieved overnight. If things go as I perceive, it would take at least two-and-a-half years before we arrive anywhere near a solution in Jammu & Kashmir.

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