Srinagar, Oct 22: Hurriyat Conference led by Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari today welcomed the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani as the Centre's new pointsman on Kashmir describing the step as a "good one though delayed". "We have been calling for talks ... Though Advani's appointment has come a little late but it is a good step," Ansari said over the phone from Delhi.
Ansari, however, said the Hurriyat executive will meet to take a final decision on whether to hold talks with Advani or not. "We have to be invited for the talks and we have to see what Advani wants to talk about. The agenda of the talks with the Deputy Prime Minister will decide the future course of action of the Hurriyat Conference," he said.
Ansari said, "I hope that the government of India has realised the futility of appointing interlocutors like K C Pant and N N Vohra."
"Advani's appointment seems to signal the seriousness of government of India in resolving the Kashmir issue," he added. Bureau Report