Kashmir interlocutors begin third visit from today

NEW DELHI - The three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government to seek out various shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir have begun their third visit to the state from Friday, following which they will most probably submit the ‘broad contours’ for a political settlement to the decades-old issue.

The three-member panel headed by journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, along with academician Radha Kumar and Central Information Commissioner M. M. Ansari will wind up their visit on December 23.

During its seven-day visit commencing today, the group will visit several district headquarters like Jammu, Rajauri, Poonch, Doda and Srinagar and interact with people and organisation cutting across party lines to take their views on a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, appointed the three-member panel on October 13 to ascertain the cross section of opinions, including separatists.

Radha Kumar, one of the three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government, had on November 14 said that dialogue with key stakeholders is vital for permanent solution of Kashmir issue.

“Most people agree that such a settlement will not be achievable without changes on the ground which will enable a lasting dialogue with key stake holders towards a permanent settlement,” said Radha Kumar during the three-member panel’s second visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have also appealed to the State Government that they should ask security forces to exercise maximum restrain,” she added.

The three interlocutors had submitted their first report to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on November 2.

They gave a list of recommendations to the government on Kashmir which they said can’t be made public.

They also maintained that they would continue making regular trips to Kashmir to keep the dialogue going.

“We handed over the report of our first visit to Jammu and Kashmir to the Home Minister. It gives our preliminary assessment of the situation, as we perceived it. We have also given a series of recommendations and suggestions to address the kind of problems that are faced in different regions of the state, and by different sections of the population in the state,” Dileep Padgaonkar told reporters last month. (ANI)