The government's interlocutor on Kashmir K.C. Pant today said the new move by the centre of starting negotiations with Pakistan was not going to affect the dialogue process with the Kashmiri separatist leaders.
"No, I do not think that the move will have any effect on the parleys initiated by the government with the Kashmiri separatist leaders for restoration of peace in the state," Pant told PTI in his first reaction to the government calling off of the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.
Brushing off speculation that the calling off of ceasefire would have an impact on the parleys initiated by him, Pant said "the unilateral ceasefire was called off after giving a considerate thought."
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About his visit to the valley, Pant said "it will be soon and the dates are being finalised."
Pant, who will soon visit the state, is expected to hold talks with Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah and former chief minister of the state G.M. Shah.
He said the road to peace was not without serious obstacles and one such hurdle was continuing violence against the innocent people of the state.
"The government expects that all right-thinking people in the state will join hands and march purposefully in quest of peace which has eluded them for the last 12 years. It is only in an atmosphere of peace that an agreed solution for the Kashmir issue can be evolved," Pant added.
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Pant, currently deputy chairman of the planning commission, defended the decision of calling off the ceasefire and said "the non-initiation of combat operations against the militants in the state was not being honoured by terrorists who chose the occasion to target civilians."
Asked whether the peace process and holding of parleys with Kashmiri groups and operations against the militants could continue simultaneously, Pant said "yes, one process is aimed at restoration of peace while another is getting tough on those who threaten it."
Asked whether in light of fresh development Hurriyat was to be given a fresh invitation, Pant said "why should I give any invitation when I have already extended it. It is yet to be replied by them formally."
On April 15, Pant had written letters to several Kashmiri groups including the Hurriyat conference inviting them for talks, but it was rejected by the 23-party conglomerate.
However, another seccessionist leader Shabir Shah had responded to the invitation after which Pant sent him a letter stating that New Delhi was not averse to holding talks with Pakistan and the entire process was for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem.
