Congress tells Kashmir separatists to resume dialogue

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress today asked separatists, including Hurriyat leaders, to resume talks with the Union government saying dialogue was the only way to address all issues.

The Congress will help in strengthening the dialogue process at all levels, JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz told party workers at Khanabal, 50km from Srinagar, in Anantnag.

"We urge the Hurriyat leadership to resume dialogue with the Centre as it is the only way to resolve all issues," he said.

The party has requested the Union government to provide a relief package to the people who had suffered during the recent unrest in Kashmir valley, Soz said.

"The package must include institution of probes into the recent deaths, adequate relief to bereaved families and implementation of recommendations of working groups set up by the prime minister.

"Expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir police and ensuring brisk trade and passenger traffic across the Line of Control should also be included in the package," Soz told the party activists.

This was the first political meeting held by any party in the valley since the unrest broke out on June 11 following the killing of a teenager allegedly in teargas shelling by police in the old city in Srinagar.