Pant to visit Srinagar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 8. The Centre's designated interlocutor on Kashmir peace talks, Mr. K.C. Pant, today announced that he would soon visit Srinagar to have more meetings in a bid to strengthen the peace process.

``I have accepted the invitation of the Awami National Conference to visit Srinagar but the dates will be firmed up later,'' Mr. Pant told reporters today after meeting Mr. Muzaffar Shah of the ANC.

The ANC of the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr. G. M. Shah, extended an invitation to Mr. Pant to visit Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to get a first hand feel of the situation. Mr. Muzaffar Shah handed over a three-page letter of the ANC to Mr. Pant, saying his party saw the opportunity as a ``positive development'' and would not put any hindrances or conditionalities for the peace talks.

``Exchange of views is the only way out for finding permanent solution to the vexed problem of Kashmir,'' Mr. Shah, son of Mr. G. M. Shah and also the spokesman of the ANC, told reporters.

Mr. Shah said that ANC's ``mantra'' for solving the Kashmir problem was ``consultation, consensus, compassion, compromise, and no-confrontation.'' He added that there was no harm in talking without bothering about the results.

Responding to queries, Mr. Pant said that he had gladly accepted the invitation and took advantage of Mr. Muzaffar Shah's presence by listening to his views on broader aspects of the Kashmir issue. ``Whatever discussion has to take place will be with Mr. G. M. Shah when I visit Srinagar,'' he said.

Mr. Pant also held meeting with senior most Ladakhi leader Kushak Bakula.

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Section  : National
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