The dialogue with Hurriyat is a step forward

THE dialogue between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the moderate Hurriyat leadership that was held in New Delhi on Monday is a significant step forward in search of peace in the Kashmir Valley. The Hurriyat leaders have indicated that they may continue to extend their cooperation to the Prime Minister's initiative. They appear to have been overwhelmed by Dr Singh's sincerity, as he did not take much to agree to review all the cases of detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Public Safety Act. He made it clear that under no circumstances will the harassment of innocent people be tolerated. After all, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are no different from those living elsewhere in the country.

Showing respect for human rights and the deployment of the troops in the strife-torn state are two different factors. The troops are there to ensure the security of the people. That is why the Prime Minister told the Hurriyat leaders that the withdrawal of the security forces was not in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country as a whole so long as terrorist violence and infiltration from across the border did not end. No government at the Centre can afford to allow the jehadi killers, still there in parts of the state, to have a free run.

The Hurriyat can play a role in eliminating terrorism, as pointed out by the Prime Minister, but this depends on its followers in the Valley. The Hurriyat representatives who met Dr Singh under the leadership of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq belonged to only one faction of the conglomerate. There is, therefore, need for involving all shades of public opinion in the dialogue process. Only a broad-based dialogue can lead to the desired conclusion. Since the Hurriyat is not averse to this idea, there should not be much difficulty in getting the support of all for ushering in an era of peace and prosperity in the state.