Srinagar, Oct 30 (IANS) Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Friday said he was ready to engage in a dialogue with India, provided the government accepted that Kashmir was a disputed territory.
“India should first accept that Kashmir is a disputed territory and then we shall enter into a dialogue with the Indian government,” Geelani, chairman of a breakaway Hurriyat Conference group, said in Baramulla town, 54 km from here.

Geelani also said that the peaceful resistance movement launched by him for vacating of civilian lands in Kashmir by the Indian security forces would continue.

Geelani said he would announce the next phase of his programme in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district where he called for a shutdown Nov 6.

Even though authorities did not restrict Geelani’s movements and allowed him to address the gathering after the Friday prayers in Baramulla town, elaborate arrangements were made to maintain law and order in the town without disturbing the normal life.

“The day passed off peacefully and there was no untoward incident anywhere in the town. We had not put any restrictions on the movements of separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani who offered prayers in a local mosque and later addressed a post-prayer gathering in the town”, a senior police officer said here.