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The Rediff Interview/ Mirwaiz Omar Farooq

Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Ghani Butt had visitors from the American embassy when Special Correspondent Onkar Singh arrived at the Hurriyat Conference office in Malviya Nagar in New Delhi. The meeting between the Kashmiri leaders and the two American embassy officials lasted more than 45 minutes.

"There is nothing unusual in the meeting we had with the American officials. We have been meeting representatives from other countries and explaining the position of the Hurriyat Conference," says Mirwaiz Farooq, who was also joined by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik.

In an exclusive interview to Onkar Singh, the Mirwaiz said the announcement of the unilateral ceasefire has already started yielding results. "I think some positive developments have taken place in the last week and we should not let this opportunity go abegging," he adds.

What have been the positive developments after the announcement of the unilateral ceasefire by Prime Minister Vajpayee?

Ever since the offer was made the Hurriyat reacted positively. We have been on the record saying it is a good gesture. But the ceasefire -- whether temporary or permanent -- is no solution to the problem of Jammu & Kashmir. It has to be accompanied by some comprehensive political measures which would ultimately lead to a permanent solution to the problem of Jammu & Kashmir. We have to move towards the process of negotiations and dialogue.

What are the steps you are looking at?

Basically, we have to underline the fact that the problem of Jammu & Kashmir is not bilateral -- between the people of the state and India. Pakistan is very much a party to the problem. Not just because it controls one third of Kashmir but because the Kashmir problem is mentioned in the United Nations resolution, Simla agreement etc.

Besides, India has been talking to Pakistan over J&K. A comprehensive peace initiative means that all three parties should be involved in the process of finding a solution.

India has made it clear that there will be no tripartite talks on this matter.

This is an unfortunate statement. If they cannot hold talks with Pakistan and Kashmir directly then they should utilise the services of the Hurriyat Conference which can negotiate with the GoI on one hand and the government of Pakistan on another. And also talk to the militants who have rejected the ceasefire.

When the Indian Army has stopped making searches and withheld an offensive against militants in the valley, the militants continue to kill innocent people, particularly members of the Sikh community.

We have all condemned the killings. Even the militant outfits have done so. Some vested interests do not want the talks to begin and therefore are indulging in the killings. There is some kind of conspiracy going on in the valley. The Sikh killings -- whether in Chittisinghpora or in Doda district -- is a part of this conspiracy. Someone, somewhere does not want the Sikhs to live in Jammu & Kashmir. They want them to migrate from the state just as the Kashmiri Pandits.

The commission of inquiry set up after the Chittisinghpora killings and headed by Justice Pandian has proved that the killings were not the handiwork of the militants.

But the Lashkar-e-Toiba has taken responsibility for the killings in Doda last week.

I have not come across any statement by any militant outfit taking responsibility for the Sikh killings in Doda. We would like a comprehensive impartial probe into the killings to establish the truth so that the real killer is exposed.

You do not believe that militant outfits have killed innocent people in Chittisinghpora or Doda.

No militant outfit will kill the innocent. They, of course, target the military and BSF camps and ambush the convoys.

You claim you will talk to militant outfits in Pakistan. Even if the Kashmiri militants listen to you the foreign militants are unlikely to listen to you.

The militant outfits are all linked. The foreign militant outfits -- Afghan and the Sudanese -- do not constitute more than one or two per cent of the militants operating in Jammu & Kashmir. Look at the names of all those who have been killed in the last ten years, they are all Kashmiris.

Of course, there are foreign elements from Azad Kashmir or Afghanistan or Sudan but they are not more than one or two per cent. If this effort is sincere I am sure the All Party Hurriyat Conference would be able to persuade them.

You are holding an emergency meeting of the Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar in a couple of days. What is the agenda before you?

We will discuss the steps that have been taken so far in the peace process. We will like to ensure that this process is not stopped. Though the Indian response has been disappointing, we hope this will not detract us from continuing on the path of peace. The GoI has to respond in a more positive way.

The prime minister has already indicated that the ceasefire might be extended beyond the holy month of Ramzan.

If that happens peace will get some chance. The people of Kashmir are fed up of violence and they want to live in peace. We want this problem to be resolved as early as possible so that we can live in peace and tranquility.

EARLIER INTERVIEWS WITH THE MIRWAIZ:

'The people are desperate. They need a solution fast'

'Whoever is responsible for the killings must be exposed'

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