Srinagar, Apr 21: Close on the heels of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's landmark visit to the Valley, the Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir, N N Vohra arrives here today for talks with the political and other groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The 66-year-old former Union home and defence secretary is expected to meet the leaders of all recognised political parties in his first phase.

Vohra would be holding discussions with national conference, Congress, people's democratic party and peoples' democratic forum and some other individuals during his week long visit. Hurriyat Conference and other main separatist leader Shabir Shah were still indecisive of whether to meet Vohra or not as they have raised doubts over the Centre's fresh initiative.

However, observers see a vast change in the Centre's approach this time as it comes in the wake of the Prime Minister's statement that the Vohra mission was different from earlier initiatives as things had changed in the state, which had laid a solid foundation for his talks. Unlike the earlier mission headed by deputy chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant, who had sent invitations to all separatists groups, Vohra's telephone numbers were displayed in local newspapers to facilitate anyone to contact him.

Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said that they would be meeting during the week in which they would decide whether to talk with Vohra or not. Bureau Report