SRINAGAR: Militants besieged ‘Inside the Hazratbal shrine in ‘Srinagar Noy.2 said that Dr.Karan Singh, former Sadri Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, could enter the mosque and hold talks with them. Their suggestion was made to the Press from inside the shrine 4nd to Wajahat Habibullah, Divisional Commissioner and chief negotiator, Monday.

Dr,Karan Singh, who was to return to Delhi Tuesday afternoon, has postponed his departure and is likely to stay on for a couple of days.

Talking to the press, he said that multilateral negotiations, without any preconditions should be held among Pakistan, India and Kashmir leaders.

Dr.Karan Singh called for a peaceful solution both to the Hazrathal issue and the Kashmir problem. The people had suffered tremendously over the last four years since the “Kashmiri tragedy” began, he said.

Asked if his suggestion that multilateral talks at different levels among India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leaders could be held without conditions, he said his was possible. To the Government’s Opinion that talks could only be held under the Constitution, he said “I don’t speak for the Government of India.”

Dr.Karan Singh warmed that there could be another India Pakistan war over Jammu and Kashmir if the crisis in the valley was not resolved immediately through multilateral talks,

Speaking at the press conference at this Karan Mahal here, the former Maharaja said the accession of the State was irrefutable, but said there Was no denying that Kashmir was an issue.

“Questioning accession would be unhistorical and denying that Kashmir was a dispute was unrealistic,” he said.

Following denial of food for the second day Tuesday, the militants inside the mosque told press per sons that their condition inside the Shrine was fast deteriorating.

From one of the minarets in the shrine, two militants told the media that the “Government of India was determined to starve them” inside the mosque. Expressing helplessness, they said their condition was worsening day by day. “Haman Halat Bahut Kharab Hai,” one of them said,

He said that despite the Army “provoking” them to open fired exercised restraint. They have not done anything to cause harm to the shrine, he added.

Referring to Dr.Karan Singh, who went round the shrine Mon day, the militant said they wanted to convey to the former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir that the standoff should be resolved only through religious channel and not by use of force, Appealing for help from the Red Cross, the militant said the international body should visit the shrine and assess their condition inside.

Direct talks between the authorities and militants did not begin till late afternoon. A report said the authorities held two rounds of direct talks overnight with the militants.

The government, in a statement Said that the shrine was purged of militants, the safety of the holy relics will be seen by prominent citizens.”

The statement assumes significance in the wake of a demand by the Huryat leaders that “neutral Observers” be sent inside the shrine to ascertain the safety of the holy relics. The Huriyat Conference called for a peaceful demonstration against the Army cordon around the shrine.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 5, 1993