SRINAGAR – Kashmir Hurriyat Leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooqand Yasin Malik Tuesday expressed their willingness to join a dialogue onKashmir if Pakistan was involved in the process has irked India.

In a joint statement, the separatist leadership said: “…this dispute hasthree stakeholders — India, Pakistan and people of this land (J&K). Themeaningful talks, based on a clear agenda, (and) underlined by sincerityamong all the three stakeholders, is an assured and peaceful way to resolvethe conflict of Kashmir.” “Absence of any one stake holder in the processwill not yield any solution, Indian Express has reported.

This comes just days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the governmentwas ready to hold dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference if the separatistscome forward for talks.

It is also a departure from the stand so far maintained by the separatists— the separatist amalgam have not demanded declaration of Kashmir as“disputed” and withdrawal of troops, as a pre-condition for talks.

The separatists have, however, called the Centre’s offer for talks as“unclear and ambiguous”. “Let the Government of India give clarity on whatit wants to talk about and speak in one language, we are ready to join theprocess,” the joint statement said.

Terming the statements from New Delhi “contradictory”, it said: “A few daysback Rajnath Singh said that they are ready to talks to Pakistan andHurriyat, to which (External Affairs Minister) Suhsma Swaraj added ridersand caveats. Then Amit Shah put out his clarifications… All this ambiguityleaves little room to consider the talk seriously.”ADVERTISEMENT

Referring to Prime Minister Mar ends Modi’s recent speech in the Valley,the separatists said: “…Modi said in Srinagar that the panacea to theKashmir problem… is ‘development’ and that ‘peace is a prerequisite forthat to happen’, thus putting the onus of bringing peace on people…Thequestion is what is this offer that Rajnath Singh is referring to?”