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European envoys meet Hurriyat leaders and Hizb mediator

The diplomats, who arrived in Srinagar on a three-day visit to the state, also met Chairman of the J&K People's Political Front Fazil-ul Haq Qureshi who acted as a go-between in the aborted dialogue between the Centre and Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen recently.

The meeting between the envoys, led by French Ambassador to India Bernard De Montferaand, and the Hurriyat leaders lasted for about one and half hours. Emerging from the meeting, Monteferrand ducked questions from reporters about the nature of the discussion with Hurriyat leaders saying the purpose of their current visit was of the same nature as the previous ones by envoys of different countries to Kashmir during the past six years.

He parried a question whether they had brought a new proposal for solving the Kashmir issue and said the Indian government was aware of the purpose of the visit of the European delegation to Kashmir. The envoys would submit a comprehensive report to their respective governments, he said.

Hurriyat Chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat told reporters the discussion with the envoys was focussed on the Kashmir issue.

Asked whether European countries would intervene in Kashmir, Bhat said, "I cannot talk of mediation or intervention. The world opinion is in favour of resolution of the Kashmir issue peacefully through dialogue."

Bhat said the envoys had not come up with a fresh proposal to solve the Kashmir issue. The discussions between the envoys and the Hurriyat leaders were focussed on the situation in Kashmir.

Bhat said, "They have their ideas, we have our own ideas but the meeting was good."

The envoys also had a meeting with the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police and Inspector General of operations during the day.

PTI

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