NEW DELHI, 25 October 2003 — India’s proposed talks with Hurriyat leaders and Pakistan seem still-born. Less than 48 hours after the federal Cabinet offered talks, differences between the selected arbitrator — Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani — and Hurriyat leaders have surfaced on what should the talks focus on.

Asserting that the government had no objections to holding talks with Hurriyat leaders just as it had with separatist groups of northeastern India, Advani said yesterday: “ If we can hold talks with Bodo and Naga groups, we can as well do it with Hurriyat.”

Advani added: “We can talk on anything and have no problems to talk to anyone... But we will not compromise on the unity or integrity of the country. Talks can be held on decentralization.”

Hours later, Hurriyat Conference said in Srinagar that it would not discuss “decentralization” of power with the federal government but would focus on resolving the Kashmir issue.

Addressing the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid in Srinagar, Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said: “The center has expressed willingness to hold talks with Hurriyat. We make it clear that any dialogue process should be aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.”

“The federal government on Wednesday made an unconditional offer for talks. But now we hear that Advani wants to talk on decentralization of power. It seems the government has not made up its mind. Let them decide whether they want to talk or not,” Farooq said.

“We will not talk on power sharing or the chief minister’s chair or subsidy. Jammu and Kashmir is a half-century-old dispute that needs to be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of its people,” he said.

Asserting that tripartite talks alone would lead to a solution, Farooq said that these could be held in phases, with India talking to Hurriyat and Islamabad simultaneously.

Earlier, welcoming New Delhi’s decision to hold talks, Hurriyat said it would give a formal response after Eid Al-Fitr. Hurriyat needs time to seek approval from all its constituents, including rebel groups, to build a consensus “within and outside,” before holding talks with Advani, Hurriyat’s executive committee said in a statement.

While India’s decision to normalize relations with Pakistan through a dozen steps have been hailed in diplomatic circles, right-winged associates of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have opposed them.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in the party mouthpiece “Saamna”: “This is impossible. We will not tolerate. We will not allow it to happen.” In the past, Shiv Sena activists have tried to disturb India-Pakistan cricket matches by vandalizing pitches, creating a ruckus and even threatening to let loose snakes in stadiums.

The new peace proposals, which include a bus service linking Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, would only increase “cross-border terrorism”, Thackeray said.

Describing India’s peace proposals as an “abject surrender to a terrorist state,” VHP leader Praveen Togadia said that instead of making peace efforts, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee should fight “Jihadi elements within India” and “declare war on Pakistan.”

EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said yesterday that India’s offer would give a “new impetus” to peace on the subcontinent. Patten also confirmed that he would hold talks in Brussels Tuesday with Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha.