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Hurriyat chief arrives in Delhi

All Party Hurriyat Conference chief Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat air-dashed to Delhi on Saturday evening, within hours of Pakistan declaring "maximum restraint" along the Line of Control in response to the Indian government's unilateral Ramzan cease-fire.

Prof Bhat refused to elaborate about the intentions behind his sudden visit. "I am here. Let me see in which direction the wind blows," he told rediff.com as soon as he arrived in the capital.

He said he had no prior appointment with any government functionary or other emissaries from either India or Pakistan. "As of now I am not meeting anyone. But if any one invites me for talks, I will meet them," he said, indicating that APHC was in a mood to discuss the Kashmir issue with the Indian government.

When asked specifically if he was meeting Home minister L K Advani or anyone else, he retorted, "Who told you? Let us see."

Sounding quite happy over the day's developments, Prof Bhat said he "would visit Pakistan if the government of India gives me my travel documents."

Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Inamu Haq had announced in Islamabad that Pakistani armed forces were observing "maximum restraint along the LoC".

Haq called on India to "reciprocate this initiative and cease firing across the LoC." He said India's unilateral cease-fire would have a meaning "only if it is combined with a purposeful dialogue."

He called on the APHC to immediately enter into a dialogue with Pakistan and India to amicably settle the Kashmir dispute.

According to observers in the Indian establishment, the coming days could witness "fast emerging, unexpected changes". But there was no official reaction to the Pakistan announcement till evening from the Indian government.

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