Prime minister Manmohan Singh would be receiving an all-party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, possibly next Monday, and plans to have a meeting with leaders of parties in Parliament.
Wanting to "win the hearts and minds" of the people of Kashmir, the government today sought to reach out to separatists, including hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and asked them to participate in a dialogue which it intends to resume.
As the opposition slammed the handling of the situation in the valley by the Centre and the Omar Abdullah government, home minister P Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha that the Kashmir problem was "unique" and required "unique" solutions in which all sections will have to be taken on board.
He said the Centre was keen on fulfilling its promises, including on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and reduction of security personnel in the state, depending on the situation there.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh would be receiving an all-party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, possibly next Monday, and plans to have a meeting with leaders of parties in Parliament, he said responding to clarifications sought on his statement on Kashmir unrest made on Wednesday.
The home minister said Pakistan appeared to have changed its strategy on fomenting trouble in the valley as it seemed to be now relying on "civilian unrest" for "dividends".
Noting that Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to India in "unique circumstances", he said the state has a "unique problem" and requires a "unique solution".
Chidambaram appealed to all sections to put an end to the cycle of violence and said, "We have to put our heads together to find a solution to the unique problem".
Contending that "it is important to win the hearts and minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir", he said, "We will resume the political process. The answer to the problem lies only through the political process, only through dialogue."
He said it was his intention to "do everything possible to resume the quiet dialogue" which he undertook with the moderate Hurriyat leaders before it got interrupted on December 4, 2009 after an assassination bid on one them --Fazl-ul Haq Qureshi.
Referring to Geelani's statement against stone-pelting, he said "if it marks a shift of his stand" it should be welcomed and that he should also come for dialogue.
"I will resume the political process... I have impressed upon all interlocutors that I am willing to resume the quiet dialogue. We have to find courage that allows to hold dialogue. We have to get on," he said and "sincerely hoped" that the separatist leaders, including Geelani, would come forward for talks.
Earlier, leader of opposition Arun Jaitley said the situation in Kashmir was "slipping out of control" and "any concession made at this stage will further dilute the sovereignty".
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