"The issue of interlocutors for a peace dialogue in
Kashmir was discussed in the two meetings. But there has not been any final
decision as yet," an official said.
Abdullah apprised the prime minister of the latest situation
in the state and also discussed the appointment of interlocutors who will begin
the process of a sustained dialogue with all sections of people in Kashmir,
especially the separatists, an official here said.
Sources said the team of interlocutors will be headed by a
politician.
Last month, the central government laid out an eight-point
agenda for peace in Kashmir, including freeing over 245 youths arrested for
stone pelting. The state has seen over 100 civilian deaths in clashes with
security forces in the last over three months.
The government is also mulling the removal of a number of
security pickets from Srinagar and other towns.
The other big step includes the government's decision to ask
the Unified Command of the state to review the disturbed areas to pave the way
for removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFPSA) from areas where
there has been no militant presence.
Officials said that the chief minister also sought prime
minister's intervention for a special arrangement for over 6,700 Haj pilgrims
from the state because there would be no direct flight to Saudi Arabia from
Srinagar this year.
The national carrier, Air India, lost the bid this year to
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) for ferrying pilgrims from India. Since Saudia
does not operate from Srinagar, Kashmiri pilgrims will have to come down to
Delhi before flying to Jeddah.
The state government hopes for some "special
arrangement" for pilgrims from the state, an official with the chief
minister said. This has happened for the first time since 2000 when direct
flights for Haj started directly from Srinagar.
