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| Total demilitarization in Kashmir ruled out | | No major breakthrough in PM-Mufti Sayeed parleys | | NEW DELHI, MAR 22
The much-awaited "crucial" parleys between the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, esprit de corps of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Kashmir, held in the Indian capital on Thursday, yielded little, even as the Kashmiri leader had climed down from total demilitarization demand to the proposal for withdrawal of troops from civilian areas in Kashmir Valley.
That the offical statement at the end of the talks saying that the discussions would continue served a clear signal about the inability of Mufti Sayeed on Thursday to achieve any major success or breakthrough. The Prime Minister had invited Mufti Sayeed for talks after the latter's regional outfit, PDP, threatened to end its alliance with the ruling Congress if its demands were not met.
Apart from gradual withdrawal of troops, the PDP has also been demanding the repeal of draconian laws, like the Disturbed Areas Act, from Jammu and Kashmir. The talks remained inconclusive and the Mufti is likely to meet the Prime Minister again to continue talks on the issues. Mufti Sayeed said that he "fully explained the view of the People's Democratic Party on gradual withdrawal of forces and repeal of the Disturbed Areas Act to the PM (Prime Minister)".
The meeting took place at a time when the Mufti had been informed about New Delhi's tough opposition to the demand for total demilitarization in Kashmir. No wonder, the Mufti, during his talks with Manmohan Singh, chose to discuss "gradual withdrawal" for troops. According to insiders, the issue of withdrawal of support did not figure at the meeting. Mufti Sayeed let it be known in reply to a question: "We will keep meeting again to take the discussion forward". The Mufti will hold discussions on Friday with the National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan.
After the luncheon meeting with the Prime Minister, the PDP leader declined to comment on the fate of the Jammu and Kashmir coalition government. As a reciprocal gesture to the ongoing talks, the PDP is likely to postpone the political affairs committee meeting scheduled for Sunday in Srinagar. Mufti Sayeed also did not reveal if the Prime Minister had given any assurance on troop withdrawal. ''I conveyed to the PM the ground situation in the State and the how the people will benefit and get relief by this move", he added.
Prime Minister's Media Adviser, Sanjaya Baru, said that both the leaders had decided to continue the talks. "Today's meeting was part of the Prime Minister's routine meeting with UPA allies", he said.
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