Hurriyat's hardline faction wants Indo-Pak talks in third country

SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani today opposed suggestion of holding Indo-Pak talks in Jammu and Kashmir on the vexed Kashmir-issue as proposed by moderate faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

The Centre will try to exploit such an event to justify its presence in the state, a spokesman of the Geelani-led Hurriyat said in a statement here.

Chairman of moderate Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, at a function yesterday, suggested holding Indo-Pak talks in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad (capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir) for resolving the Kashmir issue.

"Holding such a summit in Srinagar or Muzaffarabad can affect the issue," a statement added.

The spokesman said, while the amalgam has taken stand of not confronting the separatist leaders, interest of "freedom struggle take precedence over other issues".

"It will be beneficial for our cause if such talks are held in a third country," he added.