Day 2: Sinha & Co reach out to more stakeholders

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 26

Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, who arrived in the Valley yesterday with a delegation and met separatist leaders, today said the Kashmir issue would have been resolved had Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

“Had the NDA not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Kashmir issue would have been resolved to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders,” Sinha said during a meeting with a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The five-member group dubbed as “Track-II” by various quarters in J&K met several groups of civil society and traders today to find a solution to the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.

The Sinha-led group consists of Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, veteran journalist Bharat Bhushan and executive director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve.

“We want to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the stakeholders so as to help find a way for the lasting and peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue,” said Sinha.

Sinha has been Foreign Minister from July 2002 and May 2004. Even though Sinha has apparently been sidelined by the Narendra Modi-led government, his delegation seems to have the approval of the Centre for holding talks with separatists in Kashmir.

Kashmir Economic Forum Showkat Chowdhary said New Delhi should take a cue from the delegation and start engaging with separatists to end the logjam and find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. In a major breakthrough, the delegation held “talks in a positive atmosphere” with senior separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani, on Tuesday

In an attempt to project the visit as a low-key affair, the members insisted that they should not be seen as a “delegation from the Central government.” Instead, Sinha said, “We are people of goodwill and want to share the sufferings and pain of Kashmiri people.” Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Yasin Malik has refused to meet the delegation, saying it has no mandate to talk on the Kashmir issue. 

Meanwhile, the delegation met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her Fairview residence this evening.