Jammu, Oct 9 (IANS) Kashmir’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Friday cautioned the central government against any selective approach in choosing the separatist leaders with whom to hold talks on solving the Kashmir problem.
Former chief minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said: “Meaningful and unconditional dialogue should be started with all sections of the society including all factions of the Hurriyat Conference for an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem.”

“There should not be a ‘pick and choose’ policy while initiating dialogue with separatists,” he said, cautioning against ignoring any leader or group in the dialogue process.

Sayeed said the Indian government should come out with a positive attitude to initiate dialogue process with Pakistan and separatists groups of Kashmir, adding that without involving all groups, the dialogue process would remain inconclusive. “To make the talks result oriented, it is imperative to involve all groups and factions,” he said.

Addressing senior party functionaries after launching a membership drive here Friday afternoon, Sayeed said that through the PDP’s self-rule proposal, they had been demanding more powers for the state. “If our state would become economically self-reliant, all regions and sub-regions would equally benefit,” he said.

“There is need to evolve a consensus on this issue both at national and state level to aggressively pursue this agenda aimed at restoring lasting and sustainable peace in this region,” he added, terming it the “realistic and practical solution to address both external and dimension of the vexed Kashmir issue”.