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JKDFP team may meet Pant on Thursday

The team, comrpising party chief organiser Saleem Geelani and secretary general Maulana Abdullah Tari, arrived in the evening, two days after Shah announced in Srinagar that he was ready to talk to Pant provided he clarifed some doubts over the talks.

"We are here to hand over the letter to Pant seeking clarifications from him over four issues, which includes the status of Pakistan vis-a-vis talks on the Kashmir issue," Geelani told PTI on his arrival at the airport.

On the other clarifications, Geelani, who is accompanied by JKDFP secretary general Maulana Abdullah Tari, said, "The Centre has also to clarify whether the entire process is aimed at resolving the dispute or a mere debate."

Besides this, other issues that need clarifications include the Centre's decision to call all groups and its stand whether it was going to hold talks with Kashmiri militant groups, Geelani said.

On whether their role was confined to handing over Shah's letter, Geelani said, "We have a mandate even to present our case verbally and discuss the clarifications sought by our party chief."

Shah said earlier in the day in Srinagar that he was ready to hold one-to-one talks with the Centre's negotiator "if there is a positive response to his communication."

Meanwhile, the peace process in Kashmir is expected to gain momentum in the coming days as a special cell is being set up to assist Pant.

The cell will help Pant in the facilitation of dialogue with various political groups of Jammu and Kashmir, besides maintaining records of interaction relating to the peace process.

The move was felt necessary to help the Central Government to get a clear and complete picture about the views and sentiments of varying political sections on the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem.

It is learnt that T R Kakkar, former special secretary home, who handled Kashmir affairs for several years, is assisting the pointman in the dialogue process. Some officials of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre are also expected to be involved with the cell.

Experts on Kashmir affairs are providing adequate feedback to Pant, who has held talks with Syed Mir Qasim, a former chief minister, and Balraj Puri, a human rights activist.

Pant is in touch with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani who are supervising the process initiated in the wake of the unilateral ceasefire, which will remain in force till May 31.

After meeting Advani Tuesday, Pant had said that he was ready to respond with an open mind once he received the PDFP delegation.

The Awami National Conference of G M Shah, estranged brother-in-law of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, has also expressed willingness to hold dialogue with Pant, but on the condition that it be held in Srinagar.

The government is also examining the recent decision of the All Party Hurriyat Conference against ''boarding the crowded train'' (peace process) which would lead nowhere.

Agencies

EARLIER REPORT
Shabir Shah's representatives to meet K C Pant in Delhi, seek clarifications

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