New Delhi, Feb 03: With indications that talks with separatists and representatives of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly may begin soon, the government is likely to announce appointment of deputy chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant as its interlocutor. The Pant Mission-II was expected to begin later this month even as intermediaries were holding informal talks with separatist groups including Hurriyat Conference, asking them to either participate in the dialogue process or forget it forever.

State chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has also shown his inclination towards Mr Pant as the interlocutor for holding talks with the representatives as well as the separatists, sources said. The commission is expected to make a visit to the state before the proposed visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in April. Indications of a dialogue between the new interlocutor and separatist groups including Hurriyat Conference were available, especially after widespread international condemnation of Hurriyat Conference for not participating in the electoral process.

Hurriyat, whose proposal to visit to Pakistan was shot down by deputy prime minister L K Advani, is also believed to be rethinking its policy. Minister of state for home I D Swami has made it clear that while Centre was prepared to hold talks with various militant outfits to restore total peace, it would also act sternly to curb terrorism in the state.

Pant has already been discreetly holding talks with a think-tank of Kashmir and trying to generate an opinion about starting his “mission Kashmir” afresh. In addition, he has also been holding closed-door meetings with chief minister Sayeed. The sources said the Centre and the state government were silently working out the modalities for beginning the talks as Sayeed has been emphasising the need for an early exercise, following international appreciation for his stand including that from Britain's High Commissioner Rob Young recently.

Bureau Report